WILL  LILLIBRIDG 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


/-• 


THE   DOMINANT   DOLLAR 


BY  WILL  LILLIBRIDGE 


BEN  BLAIR.  THE  STORY  OF  A  PLAINSMAN. 
With  frontispiece  in  full  color  by  Maynard 
Dixon.  Seventh  edition,  60th  thousand. 

*#*  Besides  the  wide  success  of  "Ben  Blair" 
in  this  country  the  book  appeared  in  a  large  edi 
tion  in  London  and  also  in  Australia. 


PUBLISHED  BY  A.  C.  McCniRG  &  Co.,  CHICAGO 


"  Most  of  all  because  I  love  you  " 


[Pug*  ->'/->] 


The 

Dominant   Dollar 


BY 


WILL    LILLIBRIDGE 

Author  of  "  Ben  Blair,"  etc. 


WITH    FOUR    ILLUSTRATIONS    BY 

LESTER  RALPH 


CHICAGO 

A.  C.  McCLURG   &  CO. 
1909 


COPYRIGHT 

A.    C.     McCLUHG    &    CO. 

1909 


Published  September  11,  1909 


Entered  at  Stationers'  Hall,  London,  England 


All  rights  reserved 


THE  UNIVERSITY  PRESS,    CAMBRIDGE,    U.  S.  A. 


PS 


CONTENTS 

BOOK   I 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.    A  PROPHECY 9 

II.    UNDERSTANDING 35 

III.  PLEASURE 56 

IV.  UNCERTAINTY 70 

V.    CERTAINTY 87 

VI.    A  WARNING 110 

VII.    REBELLION 126 

VIII.    CATASTROPHE 146 

BOOK   II 

I.    ANTICIPATION 165 

II.     ACQUAINTANCE 185 

III.  FRIENDSHIP 203 

IV.  COMPREHENSION 217 

V.    FULFILMENT 241 

VI.    CRISIS 268 

VII.    TRAVESTY 285 

VIII.    CELEBRATION 302 

IX.    ADMONITION 320 

X.    DECISION     .     ,  330 


1512268 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 
"  Most  of  all  because  I  love  }rou  "     (Page  242)        Frontispiece 

"  I  'm  tired  of  reading  about  life  and  hearing  about  life. 

I  want  to  live  it"   (Page  66) 64 

"  Steve  ! "    The  girl  was  on  her  feet,    "  I  never  dreamed, 

never —      You  poor  boy  !"    (Page  153)   ....      156 

"  You  mean  to  suggest  that  Elice,"  he  began,  "  that 
Elice  —  You  dare  to  suggest  that  to  me  ? " 
(Page  107) 278 


BOOK  I 


The  Dominant  Dollar 


BOOK   I 

CHAPTER   I 

A     PROPHECY 

YOU  'RE  cold-blooded  as  a  fish,  Roberts, 
colder.    You  're  -      There  is  no  adequate 
simile." 

The  man  addressed  said  nothing. 
'  You  degrade  every  consideration  in  life, 
emotional  and  other,  to  a  dollar-and-cents  basis. 
Sentiment,  ambition,  common  judgment  of  right 
and  wrong,  all  gravitate  to  the  same  level.  You 
have  a  single  standard  of  measurement  that  you 
apply  to  all  alike,  which  alike  condemns  or  jus 
tifies.  Summer  and  Winter,  morning,  noon,  and 
night  —  it 's  the  same.  Your  little  yardstick  is 
always  in  evidence,  measuring,  measuring  — 
You,  confound  you,  drive  me  to  distraction  with 
your  eternal  '  does  it  pay.' ' 

Still  the  other  man  said  nothing. 

"  I  know,"  apologetically,  "  I  'm  rubbing  it  in 
pretty  hard,  Darley,  but  I  can't  help  it.     You 

r  9 1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

exasperate  me  beyond  my  boiling  point  at  times 
and  I  simply  can't  avoid  bubbling  over.  I  believe 
if  by  any  possibility  you  were  ever  to  have  a 
romance  in  your  life,  and  it  came  on  slowly 
enough  so  you  could  analyze  a  bit  in  advance, 
you  'd  still  get  out  your  tape  line  and  tally  up  to 
the  old  mark:  would  it  pay!  " 

This  time  the  other  smiled,  a  smile  of  tolerant 
amusement. 

"  And  why  should  n't  I  ?  Being  merely  the 
fish  you  suggest,  it  seems  to  me  that  that 's  the 
one  time  in  a  human  being's  life  when,  more  than 
another,  deliberation  is  in  order.  The  wider  the 
creek  the  longer  the  wise  man  will  linger  on  the 
margin  to  estimate  the  temperature  of  the  cur 
rent  in  event  of  failure  to  reach  the  opposite  bank. 
Inadvertently,  Armstrong,  you  pass  me  a  com 
pliment.  Merely  as  an  observer,  marriage  looks 
to  me  like  the  longest  leap  a  sane  man  will  ever 
attempt." 

'  I  expected  you  'd  say  that,"  shortly,  —  "  pre 
dicted  it." 

*  You  give  me  credit  for  being  consistent,  then, 
at  least." 

'  Yes,  you  're  consistent  all  right." 

"  Thanks.  That 's  the  first  kind  word  I  Ve 
heard  in  a  long  time." 

[10] 


A  Prophecy 

The  other  made  a  wry  face. 

"  Don't  thank  me,"  he  excepted.  "  I  'm  not 
at  all  sure  I  meant  the  admission  to  be  compli 
mentary;  in  fact  I  hardly  think  I  did.  I  was 
hoping  for  once  I  'd  find  you  napping,  without 
your  measuring  stick.  In  other  words  —  find  you 
-  human." 

"  And  now  you  're  convinced  the  case  is  hope 
less?" 

"  Convinced,  yes,  if  I  thought  you  were 
serious." 

Roberts  laughed,  a  big-chested,  tolerant  laugh. 

"  Seems  to  me  you  ought  to  realize  by  this 
time  that  I  am  serious,  Armstrong.  You  Ve 
known  me  long  enough.  Do  you  still  fancy  I  Ve 
been  posing  these  last  five  years  you  Ve  known 
me?" 

"  No;  you  never  pose,  Darley.  This  is  a  com 
pliment,  I  think ;  moreover,  it 's  the  reason  most 
of  all  why  I  like  you."  He  laughed  in  turn,  un 
consciously  removing  the  sting  from  the  observa 
tion  following.  "  I  can't  see  any  other  possible 
excuse  for  our  being  friends.  We  're  as  differ 
ent  as  night  is  from  day." 

The  criticism  was  not  new,  and  Roberts  said 
nothing. 

"  I  wonder  now  and  then,  at  times  like  this," 
[ii] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

remarked  Armstrong,  "  how  long  we  will  stick 
together.  It 's  been  five  years,  as  you  say.  I 
wonder  if  it  '11  be  another  five." 

The  smile  vanished  from  Darley  Roberts' 
eyes,  leaving  them  shrewd  and  gray. 

"  I  wonder,"  he  repeated. 

"  It  '11  come  some  time,  the  break.  It 's  inev 
itable.  We  're  fundamentally  too  different  to 
avoid  a  clash." 

"You  think  so?" 

"  I  know  so.    It 's  written." 

"  And  when  we  do?  " 

'  We  '11  hate  each  other  —  as  much  as  we  like 
each  other  now.  That,  too,  is  written." 

Again  Roberts  laughed.  A  listener  would  have 
read  self-confidence  therein. 

"  If  that 's  the  case,  would  n't  it  be  wiser  for 
us  to  separate  in  advance  and  avoid  the  horrors 
of  civil  war?  I  '11  move  out  and  leave  you  in 
peaceful  possession  of  our  cave  if  you  wish." 

"No;  I  don't  want  you  to.  I  need  you. 
That 's  another  compliment.  You  hold  me  down 
to  earth.  You  're  a  helpful  influence,  Darley, 
providing  one  knows  you  and  takes  you  with 
allowance." 

The  comment  was  whimsical,  but  beneath  was 
a  deeper,  more  tacit  admission  which  both  men 


A  Prophecy 

understood,  that  drowned  the  surface  banter  of 
the  words. 

"  I  think  again,  sometimes,"  drifted  on  Arm 
strong1,  "  that  if  the  powers  which  are  could  only 
put  us  both  in  a  pot  as  I  put  things  together 
down  in  the  laboratory,  and  melt  us  good  and 
shake  us  up,  so,  until  we  were  all  mixed  into  one, 
it  would  make  a  better  product  than  either  of  us 
as  we  are  now." 

"  Perhaps,"  equivocally. 

"  But  that 's  the  curse  of  it.  The  thing  can't 
be  done.  The  Lord  put  us  here,  you  you,  and  me 
me,  and  we  Ve  got  to  stick  it  out  to  the  end." 

"  And  become  enemies  in  the  course  of  events." 

'  Yes,"  quickly,  "  but  let 's  not  think  about  it. 
It  '11  come  soon  enough ;  and  meantime  -  The 
sentence  halted  while  with  unconscious  skill  Arm 
strong  rolled  a  cigarette  -  "  and  meantime,"  he 
repeated  as  he  scratched  a  match  and  waited  for 
the  sulphur  to  burn  free,  "  I  want  to  use  you." 
Again  the  sentence  halted  while  he  blew  a  cloud 
of  smoke :  "  I  had  another  offer  to-day." 

Following  the  other's  example,  Roberts  lit  a 
cigar,  big  and  black,  and  sat  puffing  in  judicial 
expectancy. 

"  It 's  what  you  'd  call  a  darned  good  offer," 
explained  Armstrong :  "  position  as  chemist  to 

r  13 1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

the  Graham  Specialty  Company,  who  are  build 
ing  the  factory  over  on  the  East  side  —  perfumes 
and  toilet  preparations  and  that  sort  of  thing." 

"  Yes." 

"  Graham  himself  came  to  see  me.  As  a  matter 
of  fact  he  's  the  whole  company.  He  labored  with 
me  for  two  hours.  I  had  to  manufacture  an  en 
gagement  out  of  whole  cloth  to  get  away." 

"  And  you  decided  - 

"  I  did  n't  decide.  I  took  the  matter  under 
advisement." 

'  Which  means  that  you  did  decide  after  all." 

Armstrong  grimaced  in  a  mannerism  all  his 
own,  an  action  that  ended  in  an  all-expressive 
shrug.  '  I  suppose  so,"  he  admitted  reluctantly. 

'  I  hardly  see  where  I  can  be  of  service  then," 
commented  the  other.  'If  you  were  ten  years 
younger  and  a  minor  and  I  your  guardian  - 

'  You  might  point  out  with  your  yardstick 
how  many  kinds  of  an  idiot  I  am  and  stir  me  up." 

His  companion  smiled;  as  suddenly  the  look 
passed. 

"  I  'd  do  so  cheerfully  if  it  would  do  any  good. 
As  it  is  -  The  sentence  ended  in  comprehen 
sive  silence.  ;' What,  by  the  way,  did  Graham 
offer? " 

;'  Five  thousand  dollars  a  year,  and  if  I  made 

[14] 


A  Prophecy 

good  an  interest  later  in  the  business.  He  said 
four  thousand  dollars  to  begin  with  and  gradually 
crawled  up." 

"  You  're  getting  now  from  the  University  - 

"  Twelve  hundred." 

"  With  ultimate  possibilities,  —  I  emphasize 
possibilities  - 

"  I  '11  be  dean  of  the  department  some  day  if 
I  stick." 

'  With  a  salary  of  two  thousand  a  year." 

Armstrong  nodded. 

"  And  that 's  the  end,  the  top  round  of  the  lad 
der  if  you  were  to  remain  until  you  were  fifty  and 
were  displaced  eventually  without  a  pension." 

'  Yes ;  that 's  the  biggest  plum  on  the  uni 
versity  tree.  It  can't  grow  anything  larger." 

In  his  place  Darley  Roberts  dropped  back  as 
though  he  had  nothing  to  say.  Involuntarily, 
with  a  nervous  impatience  distinctive  of  him,  his 
fingers  tapped  twice  on  the  edge  of  the  chair; 
then,  aroused  to  attention,  the  hand  lay  still. 

'  Well? "  commented  Armstrong  at  length. 

Roberts  merely  looked  at  him,  not  humorously 
nor  with  intent  to  tantalize,  but  with  unconscious 
analysis  written  large  upon  his  face. 

;'  Well?  "  repeated  Armstrong,  "  I  'm  waiting. 
The  floor  is  yours." 

[  15  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  I  was  merely  wondering,"  slowly,  "  how  it 
would  seem  to  be  a  person  like  you.  I  can't 
understand." 

"  No,  you  can't,  Darley.  As  I  said  a  moment 
ago,  we  're  different  as  day  is  from  night." 

"  I  was  wondering  another  thing,  too,  Arm 
strong.  Do  you  want  to  know  what  it  was?  " 

'  Yes ;  I  know  in  advance  I  '11  not  have  to 
blush  at  a  compliment." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that.  I  'm  not  the  judge. 
I  merely  anticipated  in  fancy  the  time  when  you 
will  wake  up.  You  will  some  day.  It 's  inev 
itable.  To  borrow  your  phrase,  '  it 's  written.' ' 

'You  think  so?"  The  accompanying  smile 
was  appreciative. 

"  I  know  so.  It 's  life  we  're  living,  not 
fiction." 

"  And  when  I  do  —  pardon  me  —  come  out  of 
it? "  The  questioner  was  still  smiling. 

*  That 's  what  I  was  speculating  on."  Again 
the  impatient  fingers  tapped  on  the  chair,  and 
again  halted  at  their  own  alarm.  '  You  '11  either 
be  a  genius  and  blossom  in  a  day,  or  be  a  dead 
failure  and  go  to  the  devil  by  the  shortest  route." 

'  You  think  there  's  no  possible  middle  trail?  " 

"  Not  for  you.    You  're  not  built  that  way." 

The  prediction  was  spoken  with  finality  —  too 
[  16  ] 


A  Prophecy 

much  finality  to  be  taken  humorously.  Respon- 
sively,  bit  by  bit,  the  smile  left  Armstrong's  face. 

"  I  won't  attempt  to  answer  that,  Darley,  or  to 
defend  myself.  To  come  back  to  the  point,  you 
think  I  'm  a  fool  not  to  accept  Graham's  offer? " 

As  before,  his  companion  shrugged  uncon 
sciously.  That  was  all. 

"  Does  it  occur  to  you  that  I  might  possibly 
have  a  reason  —  one  that,  while  it  would  n't 
show  up  well  under  your  tape  line,  to  me  seems 
adequate?  " 

"  I  'm  not  immune  to  reason." 

'  You  'd  like  to  have  me  put  it  in  words?  " 

'  Yes,  if  you  wish." 

4  Well,  then,  first  of  all,  I  Ve  spent  ten  years 
working  up  to  where  I  am  now.  I  Ve  been 
through  the  mill  from  laboratory  handy-man  to 
assistant  demonstrator,  from  that  to  demonstra 
tor,  up  again  to  quiz-master,  to  substitute-lecturer, 
until  now  I  'm  at  the  head  of  my  department. 
That  looks  small  to  you,  I  know;  but  to  me  it 
means  a  lot.  Two  hundred  men,  bright  fellows 
too,  fill  up  the  amphitheatre  every  day  and  listen 
to  me  for  an  hour.  They  respect  me,  have  confi 
dence  in  my  ability  —  and  I  try  to  merit  it.  That 
means  I  must  study  and  keep  up  with  the  pro 
cession  in  my  line.  It 's  an  incentive  that  a  man 

«  [  n  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

can't  have  any  other  way,  a  practical  necessity. 
That 's  the  first  reason.  On  the  other  hand,  if 
I  went  to  work  for  Graham  I  'd  be  dubbing 
around  in  a  back  room  laboratory  all  by  myself 
and  doing  what  he  wanted  done  whether  it  was 
interesting  in  the  least  or  not." 

"  In  other  words,"  commented  Roberts, 
"  you  'd  be  down  to  bed  rock  with  the  two  hun 
dred  admirers  removed  from  the  bed." 

"  I  suppose  so  —  looking  at  it  that  way." 

"All  right.    Goon." 

'  The  second  reason  is  that  my  employment  as 
full  professor  gives  me  an  established  position  — 
call  it  social  position  if  you  wish  —  here  in  the 
University  that  I  could  n't  possibly  get  in  any 
other  way.  They  realize  what  it  means  to  hold  the 
place,  and  give  me  credit  for  it.  We  're  all  human 
and  it 's  pleasant  to  be  appreciated.  If  I  went 
to  work  in  a  factory  I  'd  be  an  alien  —  outside 
the  circle  —  and  I  'd  stay  there." 

'  There  are  eighty  million  people  in  the  United 
States,"  commented  Roberts,  drily.  "  By  stretch 
ing,  your  circle  would  probably  take  in  two  thou 
sand  of  that  number." 

'  I  know  it 's  limited;  but  there  's  an  old  saying 
that  it 's  better  to  be  a  big  toad  in  a  small  puddle 
than  a  small  toad  in  a  large  pond." 

[18] 


A  Prophecy 

"  I  recall  there  's  an  adage  to  that  effect." 

"  Lastly,  there  's  another  reason,  the  biggest 
of  all.  As  it  is  now  the  State  employs  me  to  de 
liver  a  certain  number  of  lectures  a  semester.  I 
do  this;  and  the  rest  of  the  time  is  mine.  In  it 
I  can  do  what  I  please.  If  I  accepted  a  position 
in  a  private  enterprise  it  would  be  different.  I 
should  sell  my  time  outright  —  and  be  compelled 
to  deliver  it  all.  I  should  n't  have  an  hour  I  could 
call  my  own  except  at  night,  and  the  chances  are 
I  should  n't  have  enough  energy  left  for  anything 
else  when  night  came.  You  know  what  I  'm 
trying  to  do  —  that  I  'm  trying  to  work  up  a 
name  as  a  writer.  I  'd  have  to  give  up  that  am 
bition  entirely.  I  simply  can't  or  won't  do  that 
yet." 

'  You  Ve  been  keeping  up  this  —  fight  you 
mention  for  ten  years  now,  you  told  me  once.  Is 
anything  definite  in  sight?  " 

"  No;  not  exactly  definite;  but  Rome  was  n't 
built  in  a  day.  I  'm  willing  to  wait." 

"  And  meantime  you  're  getting  older  steadily." 

"  I  repeat  I  'm  willing  to  wait  —  and  trust  a 
little." 

Tap,  tap  went  the  impatient  fingers  again. 

"  Something  's  bound  to  drop  in  time  if  one  is 
only  patient." 

[19] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Roberts  looked  up  quickly,  the  gray  eyes  keen, 
the  tapping  fingers  stilled. 

"  Something  has  dropped,  my  friend,  and  you 
don't  recognize  it." 

'  The  tape  line  again.  The  eternal  tape  line ! 
It 's  pure  waste  of  energy,  Darley,  to  attempt  to 
make  you  understand.  As  I  said  before,  you  're 
fundamentally  incapable." 

"  Perhaps,"  evenly.  "  But  for  your  sake  I  've 
listened  and  tried.  At  least  give  me  credit  for 
that."  Of  a  sudden  he  glanced  up  keenly.  "  By 
the  way,  you  're  not  going  out  this  evening?  " 

"  No,  Elice  is  out  of  town."  Armstrong 
caught  himself.  "  I  suppose  that  is  what  you 
meant." 

For  a  moment  before  he  answered  Roberts 
busied  himself  with  a  stray  flake  of  ash  on  his 
sleeve. 

'  Yes,  in  a  way,"  he  said.  "  I  was  going  to 
suggest  that  you  tell  her  what  you  told  me  before 
you  said  *  no  '  to  Graham." 

"  It 's  unnecessary."  The  tone  was  a  trifle 
stiff.  "  She  at  least  understands  me." 

The  other  man  made  no  comment. 

'  You  're  not  going  out  either  this  evening, 
Darley?  "  returned  Armstrong. 

"No;   I'm  scheduled  for  bed  early  to-night. 

[20] 


A  Prophecy 

I  Ve  had  a  strenuous  day,  and  to-morrow  will  be 
another." 

It  was  already  late  of  a  rainy  May  evening, 
the  room  was  getting  dim,  and  silently  Arm 
strong  turned  on  the  electric  light.  Following,  in 
equal  silence,  his  companion  watching  him  the 
while  understandingly,  he  lit  a  pipe.  Stephen 
Armstrong  seldom  descended  to  a  pipe,  and  when 
he  did  so  the  meaning  of  the  action  to  one  who 
knew  him  well  was  lucid.  It  meant  confidence. 
Back  in  his  seat  he  puffed  hard  for  a  half  minute ; 
then  blew  at  the  smoke  above  his  head. 

'*  Was  that  mere  chance  that  made  you  suggest 
—  Elice  in  connection  with  that  offer  of  Gra 
ham's,"  he  asked,  at  last;  "  or  did  you  mean  more 
than  the  question  seemed  to  imply,  Darley?" 

Again  for  an  appreciable  space  there  was 
silence. 

"  I  seldom  do  things  by  chance,  Armstrong. 
To  use  your  own  simile,  I  'm  too  much  of  a  fish. 
I  don't  want  to  seem  to  interfere  with  your  per 
sonal  affairs,  however.  I  beg  your  pardon  if  you 
wish." 

"  But  I  don't  wish  you  to  do  so,"  shortly.  "  You 
know  that.  Besides  there  's  nothing  to  conceal 
so  far  as  I  'm  concerned.  Just  what  did  you 
mean  to  suggest? " 

[21] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Again  the  other  hesitated,  with  a  reluctance 
that  was  not  simulated.  Darley  Roberts  simu 
lated  nothing. 

"  If  you  really  wish  to  know,"  he  complied  at 
last,  "  I  think  you  ought  to  tell  her  —  without 
coloring  the  matter  by  your  own  point  of  view 
in  the  least.  She  should  be  as  much  interested 
as  you  yourself." 

"  She  is.    Take  that  for  granted." 

Roberts  waited. 

"  I  know,  though,  so  certainly  what  she  would 
say  that  it  seems  a  bit  superfluous." 

Still  Roberts  waited. 

"  As  I  said  before,  she  understands  me  and  I 
understand  her.  Some  things  don't  require  lan 
guage  to  express.  They  come  by  intuition." 

And  still  Roberts  waited. 

'  If  it  were  you,  now,  and  there  were  any  pos 
sibility  of  a  yardstick  it  would  be  different;  but 
as  it  is  - 

"  Miss  Gleason  then,  Mrs.  Armstrong  to  be, 
does  n't  care  in  the  least  to  see  you  come  on  finan 
cially,  is  completely  satisfied  with  things  as  they 
are?" 

It  was  Armstrong's  turn  to  be  silent. 

'  You  Ve  been  engaged  now  three  years. 
You  're  thirty  years  old  and  Miss  Gleason  is  —  " 

[22] 


A  Prophecy 

"  Twenty-five  in  August." 

"  She  is  wholly  contented  to  let  the  engagement 
run  on  indefinitely,  knowing  that  your  income  is 
barely  enough  for  one  to  live  on  and  not  at  all 
adequate  for  two? " 

The  other  stiffened  involuntarily;  but  he  said 
nothing. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon  the  second  time,  Arm 
strong,  if  you  wish ;  but  remember,  please,  I  'm 
doing  this  by  request." 

"  I  know,  Darley.  I  'm  not  an  absolute  cad, 
and  I  'm  glad  you  are  frank.  Doubtless  from 
your  point  of  view  I  'm  a  visionary  ass.  But  I 
don't  see  where  any  one  suffers  on  that  account 
except  myself." 

"  Don't  see  where  any  one  suffers  save  your 
self!  Don't  see  —  !  You  can't  be  serious,  man!  " 

Armstrong  had  ceased  smoking.  The  pipe  lay 
idle  in  his  fingers. 

"  No.  Come  out  into  the  clearing  and  put  it 
in  plain  English.  Just  what  do  you  mean? " 

"  Since  you  insist,  I  mean  just  this,  Armstrong 
—  and  if  you  '11  think  a  moment  you  '11  realize 
for  yourself  it 's  true :  you  can't  drift  on  forever 
the  way  you  're  doing  now.  If  you  were  n't 
engaged  it  would  be  different;  but  you  are  en 
gaged.  Such  being  the  case  it  implies  a  respon- 

[23] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

sibility  and  a  big  one.  To  dangle  so  is  unjust 
to  the  girl.  Let  this  apply  in  the  abstract.  It 's 
damnably  unjust! " 

"  You  think  that  I  - 

"  I  don't  think  at  all,  I  know.  We  can  theorize 
and  moon  and  drift  about  in  the  clouds  all  we 
please;  but  when  eventually  our  pipe  goes  out 
and  we  come  down  to  earth  this  thing  of  mar 
riage  is  practical.  It 's  give  and  take,  with  a 
whole  lot  to  give.  I  have  n't  been  practising  law 
and  dealing  with  marital  difficulties,  to  say  noth 
ing  of  divorces,  without  getting  a  few  inside  facts. 
Marriages  are  made  in  Heaven,  perhaps,  but 
married  life  is  lived  right  here  on  earth ;  and  the 
butcher  and  the  rest  play  leading  parts.  I  recog 
nize  I  'm  leading  the  procession  a  bit  now,  Arm 
strong;  but  as  I  said  before,  you  can't  dangle 
much  longer  if  you  're  an  honorable  man ;  and 
then  what  I  Ve  said  is  right  in  line.  If  you  '11 
take  a  word  of  advice  that 's  intended  right,  even 
if  it  seems  patronizing,  you  '11  wake  up  right  now 
and  begin  to  steer  straight  for  the  flag-pole.  If 
you  keep  on  floundering  aimlessly  and  waiting 
for  an  act  of  Providence  you  '11  come  to  grief  as 
surely  as  to-morrow  is  coming,  old  man." 

"  And  by  steering  straight  you  mean  to  save 
money.  .To  get  my  eye  on  a  dollar,  leave 

[24] 


A  Prophecy 

everything  else,  and  chase  it  until  it  drops  from 
fatigue." 

"  I  mean  get  power;  and  dollars  are  the  tan 
gible  evidence  and  manifestation  of  power.  They 
are  the  only  medium  that  passes  current  in  any 
country  any  day  in  the  year." 

Armstrong  smiled,  a  smile  that  was  not  pleas 
ant  to  see. 

'  You  'd  have  me  give  up  my  literary  aspira 
tions  then,  let  them  die  a-borning  as  it  were  - 

"  I  did  n't  say  that.  So  far  as  I  can  see  you 
can  keep  on  just  the  same.  There  are  twenty- 
four  hours  in  every  day.  But  make  that  phase 
secondary.  I  don't  discount  writers  in  the  least 
or  their  work;  but  with  the  world  as  it  is  the 
main  chance  does  n't  lie  that  way  —  and  it 's  the 
main  chance  we  're  all  after.  Fish  or  no  fish,  I 
tell  you  some  time  you  '11  find  this  out  for  your 
self.  To  get  the  most  out  of  life  a  man  must  be 
in  the  position  to  pass  current  wherever  he  may 
be.  In  the  millennium  the  standard  may  be  dif 
ferent  —  I  for  one  sincerely  hope  it  will  be ;  but 
in  the  twentieth  century  dollars  are  the  key  that 
unlocks  everything.  Without  them  you  're  as 
helpless  as  a  South  Sea  islander  in  a  metropolitan 
street.  You  're  at  the  mercy  of  every  human 
being  that  wants  to  give  you  a  kick ;  and  the  ma- 

[25] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

jority  will  give  it  to  you  if  they  see  you  are 
defenceless." 

Armstrong  was  still  smiling,  the  same  being  a 
smile  not  pleasant  to  see. 

"  Now  that  I  Ve  got  you  going,"  he  com 
mented,  "I  've  a  curiosity  to  have  you  keep  on. 
You  're  certainly  stirring  with  a  vengeance  to 
night,  Darley." 

"  And  accomplishing  nothing.  Strange  as  it 
may  seem  to  you,  I  'm  serious." 

"  I  don't  doubt  it,  old  man."  Of  a  sudden  the 
smile  had  passed.  '  I  can't  adjust  my  point  of 
view  to  yours  at  all.  If  I  thought  dollars  were 
the  end  of  existence  I  'd  quit  the  game  now.  If 
the  world  has  come  to  this  - 

'  The  world  has  n't  come  to  it  and  never  will. 
You  simply  can't  or  won't  see  the  point.  I 
repeat,  that  of  themselves  they  're  nothing,  but 
they  're  the  means  to  everything.  Get  your  com 
petency  first,  your  balance-wheel,  your  independ 
ence,  your  established  base  of  supplies;  then 
plan  your  campaign.  The  world  is  big,  infinitely 
big,  to  the  human  being  who  can  command.  It 's 
a  little  mud  ball  to  the  other  who  has  to  dance 
whenever  some  one  else  whistles." 

"  And  how  about  happiness,  the  thing  we  're 
all  after? " 

[26] 


A  Prophecy 

"  It  is  n't  happiness,  but  it 's  the  means  to  it. 
There  can  be  no  happiness  without  independ 
ence." 

"Even  marital  happiness?" 

"  That  most  of  all.  I  tell  you  the  lack  of  a 
sufficient  income  is  the  rock  on  which  most  mar 
ried  people  go  to  pieces.  It  is  n't  the  only  one, 
but  it 's  the  most  frequent.  I  Ve  seen  and  I 
know." 

'  You  'd  drive  our  old  friend  Cupid  out  of 
business,  Darley.  You  don't  give  him  an  inch 
of  ground  to  stand  on." 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  keep  him  in  business 
indefinitely  - 

"  Moreover,  the  examples  of  the  rich,  scattered 
broadcast  through  the  daily  papers,  hardly  bear 
you  out." 

'  They  are  the  exception  that  proves  the  rule. 
Nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  poor  couples  come 
to  grief,  and  the  world  never  hears  of  it.  In  the 
thousandth  case  a  rich  man  and  woman  make 
fools  of  themselves  and  the  world  reads  the  scan 
dal  next  morning.  The  principle  is  unaltered. 
The  exceptions,  the  irresponsibles  whether  rich  or 
poor,  are  something  to  which  no  rule  applies." 

"  All  right."  Armstrong  sat  up,  preventingly. 
"  I  don't  want  to  argue  with  you.  You  're  a 

[27] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

typical  lawyer  and  always  ride  me  down  by  pure 
force  of  mass."  He  smiled.  "  Gentlemen  of  the 
law  are  invariably  that  way,  Darley.  Figura 
tively,  you  fellows  always  travel  horseback  while 
the  rest  of  us  go  afoot,  and  if  we  don't  hustle  out 
of  the  way  you  ride  us  down  without  remorse." 

Roberts  was  listening  again  in  silence,  with  his 
normal  attitude  of  passive  observance. 

"  I  'm  feeling  pretty  spry,  though,  to-night," 
went  on  the  other,  "  and  able  to  get  out  of  the 
way,  so  I  'm  going  to  get  in  close  as  possible  and 
wratch  you.  I  've  tried  to  do  so  before,  but  some 
how  I  'm  always  side-tracked  just  at  the  psycho 
logical  moment."  The  quizzical  voice  became 
serious,  the  flippant  manner  vanished.  "  Hon 
estly,  Darley,  I  can't  understand  you  any  more 
than  you  can  me.  You  said  a  bit  ago  you  won 
dered  where  I  would  end.  I  have  the  same 
wonder  about  you.  Just  what  are  you  aiming  at, 
old  man,  anyway?  In  all  the  years  I  've  known 
you  you  've  never  come  right  out  and  said  in  so 
many  words." 

'  You  mean  what  do  I  intend  to  do  that  will 
make  me  famous  or  infamous,  that  will  at  least 
make  me  talked  about  ?  " 

Armstrong  laughed  shortly.  The  shot  was 
well  aimed. 


A  Prophecy 

"  I  suppose  that  is  approximately  what  I  had 
in  mind,"  he  admitted. 

"  To  answer  your  question  then,  directly,  I 
don't  intend  to  do  anything.  Nothing  is  further 
from  my  plans  than  to  get  a  position  where  I  '11 
be  talked  about." 

"Just  what  do  you  want,  then?" 

"  I  want  the  substance,  not  the  husk.  I  want  to 
be  the  party  that  pulls  the  wires  and  not  the  fig 
ures  that  dance  on  the  front  of  the  stage.  I  want 
things  done  when  I  say  they  shall  be  done.  I 
want  the  piper  to  play  when  I  pass  the  word. 
I  'm  perfectly  willing  that  others  should  have  the 
honor  and  the  glory  and  the  limelight ;  but  after 
the  play  is  over  I  want  to  be  the  boy  to  whom 
the  report  is  made  and  who  gives  directions  for 
the  next  performance.  Is  that  definite  enough?  " 

*  Yes,  definite  enough ;  but  are  you  going  to 
get  there?  You  asked  me  the  same  question, 
you  recall,  a  bit  ago." 

"  Yes,  if  I  live." 

"And  if  you  don't  live?" 

Again  the  shrug.  "  I  shall  have  tried.  I  can 
tell  Saint  Peter  that." 

"  I  did  n't  refer  to  Saint  Peter.  I  meant  you 
yourself.  Where  is  your  own  justification  except 
in  the  attainment  of  the  end?  " 

[29] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"Justification!  "  Roberts  leaned  suddenly  for 
ward,  his  attitude  no  longer  that  of  an  observer 
but  of  a  participant,  one  in  the  front  of  the 
charge.  '  The  game  is  its  own  justification, 
man !  Things  don't  have  to  be  done  with  two  hun 
dred  bright  young  students  watching  and  listen 
ing  to  be  worth  while,  my  friend." 

Armstrong  shifted  uncomfortably,  then  he 
tacked. 

"  Just  one  more  question,  a  repetition  again  of 
your  own.  Have  you  the  attainment  of  this  ob 
ject  you  suggest  definitely  in  sight?  You  're 
older  than  I  and  have  been  playing  the  game  some 
time  yourself." 

"  I  think  so." 

"  Do  you  know  so?  " 

"  As  nearly  as  a  man  can  know  anything  that 
has  n't  come  to  pass." 

"Just  how,  Darley?  I'm  absolutely  in  the 
dark  in  regard  to  your  deals  and  I  'm  curious  to 
know  the  inside.  You  Ve  got  something  partic 
ular  in  mind,  I  know,  or  you  would  n't  speak  that 
way." 

For  the  first  time  in  minutes  Roberts  looked  at 
the  other,  looked  steadily,  blankly. 

'  I  'm  sorry  genuinely,  Armstrong,  but  I 
can't  tell  you  now.  Don't  misunderstand,  please. 

[30] 


A  Prophecy 

I  'd  tell  you  if  I  were  not  under  obligation;  but 
I  'm  not  at  liberty  yet  to  say."  His  glance  left 
the  other's  face.  "  I  trust  you  understand." 

"  Yes,  certainly."  The  voice  was  short.  "  No 
offence,  I  'm  sure." 

That  there  was  offence  was  obvious,  yet  Rob 
erts  made  no  further  comment  or  explanation. 

For  perhaps  a  minute  there  was  silence;  in 
characteristic  change  of  thought  absolute  Arm 
strong  shifted. 

"  As  long  as  we  're  in  the  confidant  business," 
he  digressed,  "  there  's  still  one  question  I  'd  like 
to  ask,  Darley.  Elice  and  I  have  been  intimate 
now  for  a  number  of  years.  I  've  asked  you  re 
peatedly  to  call  with  me  and  you  've  always 
refused.  Even  yet  you  Ve  barely  met  her.  I 
quote  you  by  the  yard  when  I  'm  with  her,  and, 
frankly,  she  's  —  curious  why  you  stay  at  arm's 
length.  Between  yourself  and  myself  why  is  it, 
Darley?" 

Roberts  laughed ;  an  instant  later  the  light  left 
his  face. 

'  You  know  I  have  few  women  acquaintances," 
he  said. 

"  I  know,  but  this  particular  case  is  different." 

"  And  those  I  do  have,"  completed  the  other, 
"  are  all  securely  married." 

f  31  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Armstrong  colored. 

"  I  don't  mean  that,"  smiled  Roberts,  "  and 
you  know  I  don't.  I  'm  not  fool  enough  to  fancy 
I  'm  a  charmer.  The  explanation,  I  believe,  is  in 
my  ancestry.  I  think  they  must  have  been  fishes 
too,  and  instinct  warns  me  to  avoid  bait.  It 's 
my  own  peace  of  mind  I  'm  considering  and  pre 
serving,  friend  Armstrong." 

"  Peace  of  mind!  "  the  other  laughed.  "  From 
you  that 's  good,  Darley.  But  the  tape  line  —  " 

"  Can't  you  find  it?  " 

;'  I  confess  -  You  think  there  is  a  time  then, 
after  all,  when  it  pays?  " 

"  Do  you  fancy  I  show  signs  of  feeble 
mindedness?  " 

"  No,  emphatically  not;  but-  Jove,  you  are 
human  then  after  all!  I  begin  to  have  hope." 

Roberts  stifled  a  yawn,  a  real  yawn. 

"  I  think  I  '11  turn  in,"  he  said. 

"  Just  a  moment,  Darley.  I  feel  as  though 
I  'd  discovered  a  gold  mine,  and  I  want  to  blaze 
its  location  before  departing.  Just  when,  with 
your  philosophy,  do  you  contemplate  taking  this 
important  leap  among  the  attached?  " 

Roberts  looked  at  his  companion  in  silence. 

;'  Pardon  me,  Darley,"  swiftly,  "  that  was  flip 
pant,  I  admit,  but  I  'm  really  serious." 

[32] 


A  Prophecy 

"  Serious  ?  I  '11  take  you  at  your  word.  It  '11 
be  when  I  mean  business,  not  pastime.  Stretch 
the  tape  if  you  wish.  There  are  some  things  it 
does  n't  pay  to  play  with.  It  '11  be  when  I  can 
give  a  woman  the  things,  the  material  things,  she 
wants  and  demands  to  make  her  happy  and  con 
tented.  The  world  is  artificial,  and  material 
things  are  its  reflection.  When  I  can  make  the 
woman  who  chooses  to  marry  me  pass  current 
anywhere,  when  I  can  be  the  means  of  giving  her 
more  pleasure,  more  opportunity,  more  of  the  good 
things  of  life  than  she  has  known  before,  then, 
when  I  know,  not  hope,  this,  —  and  not  a  minute 
before-  Does  that  answer  your  question?" 

"  Yes ;  that 's  clear  enough,  I  'm  sure  —  the 
implication,  too,  for  that  matter."  The  speaker 
yawned,  unnecessarily  it  seemed,  for  his  look  was 
keen.  "  By  the  way,  though,  you  have  n't  given 
me  a  satisfactory  explanation  for  avoiding  Elice. 
She  's  attached  practically,  not  unattached;  and 
I  personally  want  you  to  know  her.  I  think  it 
would  make  you  understand  some  things  you 
don't  understand  now.  You  might  even  approve 
of  —  dangling.  What  do  you  say,  will  you  go 
out  with  me  some  evening  or  will  you  have  an 
other  engagement  as  usual?  I  shan't  suggest  it 
again,  Darley." 

3  [  33  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Standing,  as  he  had  risen  a  moment  before, 
Darley  Roberts  looked  down  at  the  speaker 
steadily,  the  distinctive  half-smile  of  tolerant 
analysis  upon  his  lips.  He  laughed  outright  as 
though  to  clear  the  atmosphere. 

"  Certainly  I  '11  go,  Armstrong,  if  you  wish. 
It  never  occurred  to  me  before  that  you  took  it 
that  way.  I  had  supposed  that  you  and  Elice 
were  an  example  of  two  being  a  company  and 
three  making  a  crowd ;  also,  to  change  the  simile, 
that  previously  your  invitations  were  the  prover 
bial  crumbs  of  charity.  I  '11  be  pleased  to  go  any 
time  you  wish." 

"  All  right."  Armstrong  too  had  risen. 
"  How  about  Sunday  evening  next  week?  Elice 
will  be  back  Saturday." 

"A  week  from  Sunday;    I  shall  not  forget." 

With  the  attitude  of  a  big  healthy  animal,  a 
bit  sleepy  now,  Roberts  stretched  himself  luxuri 
ously,  then  started  for  his  own  room  adjoining, 
calling  back,  "  Good-night." 

Armstrong  watched  him  in  silence  until  the 
other's  hand  was  on  the  knob. 

"  Good-night,"  he  echoed  absently. 


[34] 


CHAPTER   II 

UNDERSTANDING 

"T  \  T  HAT  is  it,  Elice?    You  're  transparent 
V  V     as  spring  water.    Out  with  it." 
"Out  with  what,  Steve?" 
'  The  secret  information  of  vital  importance 
that  you  're  holding  back  with  an  effort  for  a 
favorable  moment  to  deliver.     The  present  is  n't 
particularly  dramatic,   I  '11  admit,   but  it 's  the 
best  circumstances  permit." 

'  You  're  simply  absurd,  Steve ;  more  so  than 
usual." 

"  No,  merely  ordinarily  observant.    I  Ve  known 
you  some  time,  and  the  symptoms  are  infallible. 
When  you  get  that  absent,  beyond-earth  look  in 
your  eyes,  and  sit  twisting  around  and  around 
that  mammoth  diamond  ring  your  uncle  gave  you 
on  your  sixteenth  birthday  -      Come,  I  'm  impa 
tient  from  the  toes  up.    Who  is  engaged  now? " 
"  No  one,  so  far  as  I  know." 
"  Married,  then ;    don't  try  to  fool  me." 
'*  Who  told  you,  Steve  Armstrong?  " 

[  35  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  No  one."  The  accompanying  laugh  was 
positively  boyish.  "  I  knew  it  was  one  or  the 
other.  Come,  'fess  up.  I  '11  be  good,  honest." 

'  You  get  younger  every  day,  Steve,"  grudg 
ingly.  "  If  you  keep  on  going  backward  people 
will  be  taking  me  for  your  mother  soon  instead 
of  —  merely  myself." 

'  You  should  n't  go  away  then,  Elice.  I  'm 
tickled  sick  and  irresponsible  almost  to  have  you 
back.  I  'm  not  to  blame.  But  we  're  losing  valu 
able  time.  I  'm  listening." 

*  You  swear  that  you  don't  know  already  — 
that  you  aren't  merely  making  fun  of  me?" 

"  On  my  honor  as  full  professor  of  chemistry. 
I  have  n't  even  a  suspicion." 

;'  I  wonder  if  you  are  serious  —  somehow  I 
never  know.  I  '11  risk  it  anyway,  and  if  you  're 
just  leading  me  on  I  '11  never  forgive  you,  Steve, 
never.  It 's  Margery." 

"  Margery !  The  deuce  it  is  —  and  Harry 
Randall,  of  course." 

"  Certainly.  Who  'd  you  think  it  was :  Pro 
fessor  Wilson  with  his  eight  children? " 

"  Now  I  call  that  unkind,  Elice.  After  all  the 
interest  I  've  shown,  too!  Honest,  though,  I  am 
struck  all  in  a  heap.  I  never  dreamed  of  such  a 
thing  —  now." 

[36] 


Understanding 

The  result  of  the  revelation  was  adequate  and 
Miss  Gleason  relented. 

"  It  was  rather  '  sudden,'  as  they  say.  No  one 
knew  of  it  except  their  own  families." 

"  Sudden!  I  should  decidedly  say  so.  I 
certainly  thought  they  at  least  were  to  be  de 
pended  upon,  were  standbys.  When  did  it 
happen? " 

"  Last  evening.  Agnes  Simpson  just  told  me 
before  you  came." 

"  She  did,  did  she?  I  thought  she  looked  won 
drous  mysterious  when  I  met  her  down  the  street. 
It  was  justifiable,  though,  under  the  circum 
stances.  I  suppose  they,  the  Randalls,  have 
gone  away  somewhere? " 

"  No ;  that 's  the  funny  part  of  it.  They 
have  n't  gone  and  are  n't  going." 

"Not  at  all?" 

"  No.    I  'm  quoting  Agnes." 

"And  why  aren't  they  going?  Did  Agnes 
explain  that? " 

"  Steve,  you  're  horrid  again." 

"No;  merely  curious  this  time.  Agnes  is 
something  of  an  authority,  you  '11  admit." 

"Yes;  I  guess  I'll  have  to  admit  that.  I 
did  n't  ask  her,  though,  Steve  Armstrong.  She 
suggested  gratis  —  that  Harry  could  n't  afford 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

it.  They  went  into  debt  to  buy  furnishings  for 
the  house  as  it  was." 

"  I  don't  doubt  it.  History  pays  even  less  than 
chemistry,  and  the  Lord  knows  -  No ;  I  don't 
doubt  it." 

:'  Knows  what,  Steve?" 

"Who  knows  what?" 

'  The  one  you  suggested." 

"  Oh !  I  guess  you  caught  the  inference  all 
right.  No  need  to  have  put  it  in  the  abstract. 
We  professors  of  the  younger  set  are  all  in  the 
same  boat.  We  'd  all  have  to  go  into  debt  under 
like  circumstances." 

Elice  Gleason  meditated. 

"  But  Harry  's  been  a  full  professor  now  a  long 
time,"  she  commented;  "two  years  longer  than 

you." 

"And  what  difference  does  that  make?  He 
just  lives  on  his  salary." 

"  Is  that  so?  I  never  thought  of  it  that  way. 
I  don't  think  I  ever  considered  the  financial  side 
before  at  all." 

Armstrong  looked  his  approval. 

'  I  dare  say  not,  Elice;  and  I  for  one  am 
mighty  glad  you  did  n't.  Life  is  cheap  enough 
at  best  without  adding  to  its  cheapness  un 
necessarily." 

[38] 


Understanding 

The  girl  seemed  scarcely  to  hear  him,  missing 
the  argument  entirely. 

"  I  suppose,  though,"  she  commented  reflec 
tively,  "  when  one  does  think  of  it,  that  it  '11  be 
rather  hard  on  Margery  to  scrimp.  She  's  always 
had  everything  she  wants  and  is  n't  used  to 
economizing." 

Armstrong  sat  a  moment  in  thought.  He 
gave  his  habitual  shrug. 

"  She  should  have  thought  of  that  before  the 
minister  came,"  he  dismissed  with  finality.  "  It 's 
a  trifle  late  now." 

"  They  've  been  putting  it  off  for  a  long  time, 
though,"  justified  the  girl,  "  and  probably  she 
thought  —  one  has  to  cease  delaying  some 
time." 

"Elice!  Elice!"  Armstrong  laughed  banter- 
ingly.  :'  I  believe  you  've  got  the  June  bug  flut 
tering  in  your  bonnet  too.  It 's  contagious  this 
time  of  year,  is  n't  it?  " 

"  Shame  on  you,  Steve!  "  The  voice  was  drip 
ping  with  reproach.  '  You  always  will  be  per 
sonal.  You  know  I  did  n't  mean  it  that  way." 

"  Not  a  bit,  honest  now?  " 

"  I  say  you  ought  to  be  ashamed  to  make  fun 
of  me  that  way." 

"But  honest - 

[39] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  Well,"  reluctantly,  "  maybe  I  did  just  a  bit. 
We  too  have  been  engaged  quite  a  while." 

"  Almost  as  long  as  the  Randalls." 

"  Yes." 

The  quizzical  look  left  Armstrong's  eyes,  but 
he  said  nothing. 

"  And  I  suppose  every  woman  wants  a  home 
of  her  own.  It 's  an  instinct.  I  think  I  under 
stand  Margery." 

From  out  the  porch  of  the  Gleason  cottage, 
shaded  from  the  curious  by  its  climbing  rose- 
vines,  the  girl  looked  forth  at  the  sputtering 
electric  globe  on  the  corner. 

"  And,  besides,  people  get  to  talking  and  smil 
ing  and  making  it  unpleasant  for  a  girl  after  so 
long.  It  was  so  with  Margery.  I  know,  al 
though  she  never  told  me.  It  bothered  her." 

'  You  say  after  so  long,  Elice.    How  long? " 

"  I  did  n't  mean  any  particular  length  of  time, 
Steve.  There  is  n't  any  rule  by  which  you  can 
measure  gossip,  so  far  as  I  know." 

"  Approximately,  then." 

"  Oh,  after  a  year,  I  suppose.  It 's  about  then 
that  there  's  a  comment  or  two  sandwiched  be 
tween  the  red  and  blue  decks  at  bridge  parties." 

"  And  we  've  been  engaged  now  three  years. 
Do  they  ever  sandwich  - 

[40] 


Understanding 

"  How  do  I  know.  They  don't  do  it  to  one's 
face." 

"  But  Margery  —  you  say  they  made  it  un 
comfortable  for  her." 

"  Steve  Armstrong,"  the  voice  was  intention 
ally  severe,  "  what  possesses  you  to-night?  I 
can't  fancy  what  put  that  notion  into  your  head." 

'  You  did  yourself,"  serenely,  "  just  now.  I 
never  happened  to  stumble  upon  this  particular 
continent  before,  and  I  'm  intent  on  exploration 
and  discovery.  Honest,  do  they,"  he  made  an 
all-inclusive  gesture,  "  talk  about  you  and  me? " 

"  I  tell  you  they  don't  do  those  things  to  our 
faces." 

'  You  're  evading  the  question,  girl  Elice." 

'  They  're  not  unpleasant  intentionally." 

"  Still  evasion.  Out  with  it.  Let 's  clear  the 
air." 

The  girl  drummed  on  the  arm  of  her  chair,  first 
with  one  hand,  then  with  the  other.  At  last  she 
looked  the  questioner  fairly  in  the  face. 

"  Frankly,  Steve,  they  do;  and  they  have  for 
a  year.  But  I  don't  mind.  I  did  n't  intend  to 
say  anything  to  you  about  it." 

The  look  of  the  boy  vanished  from  the  other's 
eyes. 

"I  —  see,"  he  commented  slowly. 

[41  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  People  are  horrid  that  way,  even  people 
otherwise  nice,"  amplified  the  girl.  "  As  soon  as 
any  one  they  know  has  an  —  affair  it  immedi 
ately  becomes  public  property.  It 's  almost  as 
bad  as  a  murder  case.  The  whole  thing  is  tried 
and  settled  out  of  court." 

The  figure  of  the  man  settled  down  in  his  chair 
to  the  small  of  his  back.  His  fingers  locked  over 
one  knee. 

;'  I  suppose  it  was  something  of  that  kind  Dar- 
ley  had  in  mind,"  he  said. 

"  Barley  Roberts?    When?  " 

'  We  were  talking  about  —  similar  cases  a  few 
days  ago." 

'  You  were? "  There  was  just  a  shade  of 
pique  in  the  tone.  "  He  must  be  a  regular  fount 
of  wisdom.  You're  always  quoting  him." 

"  He  is,"  tranquilly.  ;'  By  the  way,  with  your 
permission,  he  's  going  to  call  with  me  to-morrow 
night." 

'With  my  permission!"  The  girl  laughed. 
'  You  've  solicited,  and  received,  that  several 
times  before  —  and  without  result.  I  'm  almost 
beginning  to  doubt  the  gentleman's  existence." 

'  You  won't  much  longer.  I  invited  him  and 
he  accepted.  He  always  does  what  he  says  he  '11 
do." 

[42] 


Understanding 

'  Very  well,"  the  voice  was  non-committal. 
"  I  'm  always  glad  to  meet  any  of  your  friends." 

Armstrong  warmed,  as  he  always  did  when 
speaking  of  Darley  Roberts. 

'  You  will  be  when  you  know  him,  I  'm  sure. 
That 's  why  I  asked  him  to  come.  He  's  an  odd 
chap  and  slow  to  thaw,  but  there  is  n't  another 
lawyer  in  town,  not  even  in  the  department,  who  's 
got  his  brains." 

'  They  could  n't  have,  very  well,  could  they?  " 
evenly. 

"  I  '11  admit  that  was  a  trifle  involved;  but  you 
know  what  I  mean.  He  's  what  in  an  undergrad 
uate  they  call  a  grind.  The  kind  biographers 
describe  as  *  hewing  forever  to  the  line.'  If  we 
live  and  retain  reasonably  good  health  we  '11  hear 
of  him  some  day." 

"  And  I  repeat,"  smilingly,  "  I  Ve  heard  of 
him  a  great  deal  already." 

Armstrong  said  nothing,  which  indicated  mild 
irritation. 

"  Excuse  me,  Steve,"  said  the  girl,  contritely. 
"  I  did  n't  mean  to  be  sarcastic;  that  just  slipped 
out.  He  has  acted  sort  of  queer,  though,  consid 
ering  he  's  your  room-mate  and  -  -  I  had  that  in 
mind.  I  am  interested,  however,  really.  Tell  me 
about  him." 

[43] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Armstrong  glanced  at  his  companion ;  his  gaze 
returned  to  his  patent  leather  pumps,  which  he 
inspected  with  absent-minded  concentration. 

"  I  have  told  you  before,  I  guess,  about  all  I 
know.  He  's  a  good  deal  of  an  enigma  to  me, 
even  yet." 

"By  the  way,  how  did  you  happen  to  get  ac 
quainted  with  him,  Steve?"  From  the  manner 
spoken  the  question  might  or  might  not  have  been 
from  genuine  interest.  '  You  Ve  never  told  me 
that." 

"  Oh,  it  just  happened,  I  guess.  We  were  in 
the  collegiate  department  together  at  first."  He 
laughed  shortly.  "  No,  it  did  n't  just  happen 
either  after  all.  I  went  more  than  half  way  — 
I  recognize  that  now." 

The  girl  said  nothing. 

'  Looking  back,"  continued  the  man,  "  I  see 
the  reason,  too.  He  fascinated  me  then,  as  he  does 
yet.  I  Ve  had  comparatively  an  easy  enough  sort 
of  life.  I  was  brought  up  in  town,  where  there 
was  nothing  particular  for  a  boy  to  do,  and  when 
it  came  college  time  my  father  backed  me  com 
pletely.  Darley  was  the  opposite  exactly,  and  he 
interested  me.  He  was  unsocial;  somehow  that 
interested  me  more.  I  used  to  wonder  why  he 
was  so  when  I  first  knew  him ;  bit  by  bit  I  gath« 

[44] 


Understanding 

ered  his  history  and  I  wondered  less.  He  's  had 
a  rough-and-tumble  time  of  it  from  a  youngster 
up."  The  voice  halted  suddenly,  and  the  speaker 
looked  at  his  companion  equivocally.  "  Still  inter 
ested,  are  you,  Elice?  I  don't  want  to  be  a  bore." 

"  Yes." 

"  I  '11  give  you  the  story  then  as  I  've  patched 
it  together  from  time  to  time.  I  suppose  he  had 
parents  once;  but  as  they  never  figured,  I  infer 
they  died  when  he  was  young.  He  came  from  the 
tall  meadows  out  West  straight  to  the  Univer 
sity  here.  How  he  got  the  educational  ambition 
I  have  n't  the  remotest  idea ;  somehow  he  got  it 
and  somehow  he  came.  It  must  have  been  a  rub 
to  make  it.  He  's  mentioned  times  of  working 
on  a  farm,  of  chopping  ties  in  Missouri,  of  heav 
ing  coal  in  a  bituminous  mine  in  Iowa,  of  -  - 1 
don't  know  what  all.  And  still  he  wras  only  a  boy 
when  I  first  saw  him ;  a  great,  big,  over-aged  boy 
with  a  big  chin  and  bigger  hands.  The  peculiar 
part  is  that  he  was  n't  awkward  and  never  has 
been.  Even  when  he  first  showed  up  here  green 
the  boys  never  made  a  mark  of  him."  Again  the 
short  expressive  laugh.  "  I  think  perhaps  they 
were  a  bit  afraid  of  him." 

"  And  he  got  right  into  the  University?  " 

"Bless  you,  no;   only  tentatively.     He  had  a 

[45] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

lot  of  back  work  to  make  up  at  the  academy. 
That  did  n't  bother  him  apparently.  He  swal 
lowed  that  and  the  regular  course  whole  and  cried 
for  more."  Armstrong  stretched  lazily.  His 
hands  sought  his  pockets.  ;'  I  guess  that 's  about 
all  I  know  of  the  story,"  he  completed. 

"  All  except  after  he  was  graduated."  It  was 
interest  genuine  now. 

"  So  you  have  begun  to  take  notice  at  last," 
commented  Armstrong,  smilingly.  "I  'ma  better 
raconteur  than  I  imagined.  When  it  comes  to 
being  specific,  though,  after  he  graduated,  I 
admit  I  can't  say  much  authoritatively.  He  '11 
talk  about  anything,  ordinarily,  except  himself. 
I  know  of  a  dozen  cases  from  the  papers,  some  of 
them  big  ones,  that  he  's  been  concerned  in  during 
the  last  few  years ;  but  he  's  never  mentioned 
them  to  me.  He  seemed  to  get  in  right  from  the 
start.  How  he  managed  to  turn  the  trick  I 
have  n't  the  slightest  conception ;  he  simply  did. 
As  I  said  before,  he  grows  to  be  more  of  an 
enigma  to  me  all  the  time." 

Apparently  the  girl  lost  interest  in  the  party 
under  discussion ;  at  least  she  asked  no  more  ques 
tions  and,  dilatory  as  usual  when  not  definitely 
directed,  Armstrong  dropped  the  lead.  For  a 
minute  they  sat  so,  gazing  out  into  the  night, 

[46] 


Understanding 

silent.  Under  stimulus  of  a  new  thought,  point 
blank,  whimsical,  came  a  change  of  subject. 

"  By  the  way,"  commented  Armstrong,  "  I  'm 
considering  quitting  the  University  and  going 
into  business,  Elice.  What  do  you  think  of  the 
idea? " 

"  What  -      I  beg  your  pardon,  Steve." 

The  other  repeated  the  question,  all  but  soberly 
this  time. 

"  Do  you  mean  it,  Steve,  really,  or  are  you  just 
drawing  me  out? " 

"Mean  it!"  Armstrong  laughed.  "Perhaps, 
and  perhaps  not.  I  don't  know.  What  do  you 
think  of  the  notion,  anyway?  " 

The  girl  looked  at  him  steadily,  a  sudden 
wrinkle  between  her  eyes. 

'  You  have  something  special  in  mind,  I 
judge,  Steve;  something  I  don't  know  about. 
What  is  it?" 

"  Special ! "  Armstrong  laughed  again,  shortly 
this  time.  '  Yes,  I  suppose  so ;  though  I  did  n't 
know  it  when  I  first  asked  the  question.  Now 
I  'm  uncertain  —  you  take  the  suggestion  so  seri 
ously.  Graham,  the  specialty  man,  made  me  an 
offer  to-day  to  go  in  with  him.  Five  thousand 
dollars  a  year  to  start  with,  and  a  prospect  of 
more  later  on. " 

[47] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

The  wrinkle  between  the  girl's  eyes  smoothed. 
Her  hands  recrossed  in  her  lap. 

'  You  refused  the  offer,  I  judge,"  she  said. 

"  No ;  that  is,  I  told  him  I  'd  take  the  matter 
under  advisement."  Armstrong  glanced  at  his 
companion  swiftly;  but  she  was  not  looking  at 
him  and  he  too  stared  out  into  the  night.  "  I 
wanted  to  hear  what  you  said  about  it  first." 

"Steve!" 

In  the  darkness  the  man's  face  colored. 

;'  Elice,  are  n't  you  —  ashamed  a  bit  to  doubt 
me?" 

"  No."  She  was  looking  at  him  now  smilingly. 
"  I  don't  doubt  you.  I  know  you." 

'  You  fancy  I  refused  point  blank,  without 
waiting  to  tell  you  about  it? " 

For  the  third  time  the  girl's  fingers  crossed 
and  interlocked.  That  was  all. 

;'  Elice!  "  The  man  moved  over  to  her,  paused 
so,  looking  down  into  her  face.  '  Tell  me,  I  'm 
dead  in  earnest.  Don't  you  trust  me?  " 

"  I  trust  you  absolutely,  Steve;  but  that 
does  n't  prevent  my  knowing  you." 

"  And  I  tell  you  I  took  the  matter  under 
advisement." 

"  He  persuaded  you  to.  You  refused  at  first 
even  to  consider  it." 

[48] 


Understanding 

Smilingly  she  returned  his  injured  look  fair  in 
the  eyes.  Still  smiling,  she  watched  him  as  in 
silence  he  recrossed  slowly  to  his  place. 

"  Yes,  you  're  right  —  as  usual,"  he  admitted 
at  last.  '  You  do  know  me.  Apparently  all 
my  friends  know  me,  better  than  I  know  my 
self."  He  shrugged  characteristically.  ;'  But 
you  have  n't  answered  my  question  yet.  What  do 
you  think  of  my  accepting?  " 

"  I  try  never  to  think  —  about  the  useless. 
You  won't  accept." 

'  You  may  be  mistaken,  may  compel  me  to 
against  my  best  judgment." 

"  No,  you  won't  do  that.  I  shan't  influence 
you  in  the  least." 

For  answer  Armstrong  stood  up,  his  hands 
deep  in  his  pockets,  his  shoulders  square.  A  min 
ute  perhaps  he  stood  so.  Once  he  cleared  his 
throat.  He  sat  down.  An  instant  later  he 
laughed  —  naturally,  in  genuine  amusement. 

"  I  surrender,  Elice,"  he  said;  "  foot,  horse, 
and  officers.  I  can  succeed  in  deceiving  myself, 
easily ;  but  when  it  comes  to  you  -  He 

dropped  his  hands  hopelessly.  "  On  the  square, 
though,  and  between  ourselves,  do  you  want  me 
to  quit  the  University  and  accept  this  —  job? 
It 's  a  good  lead,  I  realize." 

4  [  49  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  I  'd  rather  not  say  either  way,"  slowly.  "  I 
repeat  that  it 's  useless  to  disagree,  when  nothing 
would  be  gained." 

"  Disagree !  We  never  disagree.  We  never 
have  in  all  the  time  we  Ve  known  each  other." 

'  We  Ve  never  discussed  things  where  disa 
greement  was  probable." 

"  Maybe  that 's  right.  I  never  thought  of  it 
before."  A  pause.  "  Has  that  harmony  been 
premeditated  on  your  part?  " 

"  Unconsciously  so,  yes.  It 's  an  instinct  with 
me,  I  think,  to  avoid  the  useless." 

Armstrong  stared  across  the  dim  light  of  the 
porch.  Mentally  he  pinched  himself. 

'  Well,  I  am  dumb,"  he  commented,  "  and  you 
are  wonderful.  Let 's  break  the  rule,  though,  for 
once,  and  thresh  this  thing  out.  I  want  your 
opinion  on  this  Graham  matter,  really.  Tell  me, 
please." 

"  Don't  ask  me,"  repeated  the  girl.  "  You  'd 
remember  what  I  said  —  and  it  would  n't  do  any 
good.  Let 's  forget  it." 

"  Of  course  I  'd  remember.  I  want  to  remem 
ber,"  pressed  the  man.  "  You  think  I  ought  to 
accept? " 

A  moment  the  girl  hesitated;  then  she  looked 
him  fair. 

[50] 


Understanding 

"  Yes,"  she  said  simply. 

"  And  why?  Tell  me  exactly  why,  please? 
You  're  not  afraid  to  tell  me  precisely  what  you 
think." 

"  No,  I  'm  not  afraid;  but  I  think  you  ought  to 
realize  it  without  my  putting  it  in  words." 

Armstrong  looked  genuine  surprise. 

"  I  suppose  I  ought  —  probably  it 's  childishly 
obvious,  but  —  tell  me,  Elice." 

'  To  put  it  selfishly  blunt,  then,  since  you  insist, 
I  think  you  ought  to  for  my  sake.  If  an  income 
you  can  depend  upon  means  nothing  in  particular 
to  you  you  might  consider  what  it  would  mean 
to  me." 

Unconsciously  the  lounging  figure  of  the  man 
in  the  chair  straightened  itself.  The  drawl  left 
his  voice. 

"  Since  we  have  stumbled  upon  this  subject," 
he  said  quietly,  "  let 's  get  to  the  bottom  of  it. 
I  think  probably  it  will  be  better  for  both  of  us. 
Just  what  would  it  mean  to  you,  that  five  thou 
sand  dollars  a  year? " 

"  Don't  you  know,  Steve,  without  my  telling 
you?" 

"  Perhaps;  but  I  'd  rather  you  told  me  unmis 
takably." 

As  before  the  girl  hesitated,  longer  this  time; 

f  51  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

involuntarily  she  drew  farther  back  until  she  was 
completely  hidden  in  the  shadow. 

'  What  it  means  to  me  you  can't  help  know 
ing,  but  I  '11  repeat  it  if  you  insist."  She  drew  a 
long  breath.  Her  voice  lowered.  "  First  of  all, 
it  would  mean  home,  a  home  of  my  own.  You 
don't  know  all  that  that  means  because  you  're  a 
man,  and  no  man  really  does  understand;  but 
to  a  woman  it 's  the  one  thing  supreme.  You 
think  I  Ye  got  one  now,  have  had  all  my  life ;  but 
you  don't  know.  Father  and  I  live  here.  We 
keep  up  appearances  the  best  we  can;  we  both 
have  pride.  He  holds  his  position  in  the  Univer 
sity;  out  of  charity  every  one  knows,  although 
no  one  is  cruel  enough  to  tell  him  so.  We  manage 
to  get  along  somehow  and  keep  the  roof  tight; 
but  it  is  n't  living,  it  is  n't  home.  It 's  a  perpetual 
struggle  to  make  ends  meet.  His  time  of  useful 
ness  is  past,  as  yours  will  be  past  when  you  're  his 
age ;  and  it 's  been  past  for  years.  I  never  ad 
mitted  this  to  a  human  being  before,  but  I  'm 
telling  it  to  you  because  it 's  true.  We  Ve  kept 
up  this  —  fight  for  years,  ever  since  I  can  remem 
ber,  it  seems  to  me.  We  've  never  had  income 
enough  to  go  around.  I  have  n't  had  a  new  dress 
in  a  year.  I  have  n't  the  heart  to  ask  for  it. 
Everything  I  have  has  been  darned  and  patched 


Understanding 

and  turned  until  it  won't  turn  again.  It  is  n't 
poverty  such  as  they  have  on  the  East  Side,  be 
cause  it  is  n't  frank  and  open  and  aboveboard ; 
but  it 's  genteel  poverty  in  the  best  street  of  the 
town :  University  Row.  It 's  worse,  Steve,  be 
cause  it 's  unadmitted,  eternally  concealed,  hope 
less.  It  is  n't  a  physical  hunger,  but  again  a 
worse  one:  an  artistic  hunger.  I  'm  a  college 
graduate  with  letters  on  the  end  of  my  name 
when  I  choose  to  use  them.  I  've  mixed  with 
people,  seen  the  niceties  of  life  that  only  means 
can  give,  could  n't  help  seeing  them ;  and  they  're 
all  beyond  my  reach,  even  the  common  ones.  If 
I  did  n't  know  anything  different  I  should  n't 
feel  the  lack;  but  I  do  know.  I  'm  not  even  to 
blame  for  knowing.  It  was  inevitable,  thrust 
upon  me.  I  'm  the  hungry  child  outside  the 
baker's  window.  I  can  look  and  look  —  and  that 
is  all." 

The  voice  ceased.  Frankly,  unhesitatingly, 
the  face  came  out  of  the  shadow  and  remained 
there. 

"  I  think  you  understand  now  what  I  mean, 
Steve,  unmistakably.  I  suppose,  too,  you  think 
me  selfish  and  artificial  and  horrid,  and  I  shan't 
deny  it.  I  am  as  I  am  and  I  want  things.  To 
pretend  that  I  don't  would  be  to  lie  —  and  I 

[53] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

won't  lie  to  you  whatever  happens.  I  simply 
won't.  We  both  know  what  your  place  in  the 
University  means;  I  perhaps  better  than  you, 
because  I  Ve  seen  my  father's  experience.  I  don't 
often  get  bitter,  but  I  come  very  near  it  when  I 
look  back  and  think  how  my  mother  had  to  plan 
and  scrimp.  I  feel  like  condemning  the  whole 
University  to  the  bottomless  pit.  I  suppose  Mar 
gery  Randall  would  resent  it  if  I  told  her  so,  but 
honestly  I  pity  her;  the  more  so  because  I  've 
always  envied  her  in  a  way.  She  's  not  used  to 
denying  herself  anything,  and  there  's  bound  to 
be  a  reckoning.  It 's  inevitable,  and  then  -  I 
don't  like  to  think  of  how  it  will  be  then.  It 's  a 
tragedy,  Steve,  nothing  more  or  less." 

Opposite  the  man  sat  motionless  in  his  place 
looking  at  her.  All  trace  of  his  usual  lounging 
attitude  was  absent.  He  was  not  even  smoking. 
For  almost  a  full  minute  after  she  was  done  he 
sat;  then  he  arose  abruptly.  This  time  he  did 
not  offer  to  come  over  to  her. 

"So  this  is  the  way  you  feel,"  he  commented  at 
last,  slowly.  '  It 's  a  new  phase  of  you  entirely, 
Elice,  that  I  admit;  but  at  least  I  'm  glad  to 
know  it."  He  thrust  his  hands  deep  into  his 
pockets.  "  In  plain  English,  you  'd  barter  my 
position  and  ambition  gladly  for  —  things. 

[54] 


Understanding 

Frankly  I  did  n't  think  that  of  you,  Elice,  before. 
I  imagined  I  knew  you  better,  knew  different." 

Responsive,  instinctively  the  girl  started  to  rise. 
Her  breath  came  quick.  Swiftly  following  came 
second  thought  and  she  sank  back,  back  into  the 
shadow.  She  said  nothing. 

A  moment  the  man  waited,  expecting  an  an 
swer,  a  denial,  something ;  when  nothing  came  he 
put  on  his  hat  with  meaning  deliberation. 

;'  I  repeat  I  'm  very  glad  you  told  me,  though, 
even  if  I  do  have  to  readjust  things  a  bit."  He 
shrugged  his  shoulders.  Despite  the  wounded 
egotism  that  was  urging  him  on,  it  was  the  first 
real  cloud  that  had  arisen  on  the  horizon  of  their 
engagement  and  he  was  acutely  self-conscious. 
"  Rest  assured,  however,  that  I  shall  consider 
your  point  of  view  before  I  say  yes  or  no  to 
Graham.  Just  now  -  He  halted,  cleared  his 
throat  needlessly;  abruptly,  without  completing 
the  sentence  or  giving  a  backward  glance,  he 
started  down  the  walk.  "  Good-night,  Elice,"  he 
said. 


[55] 


CHAPTER    III 

PLEASURE 

"  fTHHE  trouble  with  you,  Darley,"  said  Arm- 
JL  strong,  "  is  that  you  took  your  course  in 
the  University  in  too  big  doses.  You  went  on 
the  principle  that  if  a  little  grinding  is  good  for 
a  man  a  perpetual  dig  must  be  a  great  deal 
better."  He  was  in  the  best  of  humor  this  Sun 
day  night,  and  smiled  at  the  other  genially.  "A 
college  course  is  a  good  deal  like  strychnine. 
Taken  in  small  doses  over  a  long  period  of  time 
it  is  a  great  tonic.  Swallowed  all  at  once  —  you 
know  what  happens." 

From  her  place  in  a  big  easy  chair  Elice 
Gleason  watched  with  interest  the  result  of 
the  badinage,  but  Roberts  himself  made  no 
comment. 

"  You  started  in,"  continued  Armstrong,  "  to 
do  six  years'  work  in  four  —  and  did  it.  You 
were  a  human  grinding  machine  and  you  ground 
very  fine,  that  I  '11  admit;  but  in  doing  so  you 
missed  a  lot  that  was  more  valuable,  a  lot  that 

[56] 


Pleasure 

while  it  does  n't  make  credit  figures  in  the  sum 
total  of  university  atmosphere." 

"For  instance?"  suggested  the  other,  lacon 
ically. 

'  Well,  for  one  thing,  you  never  joined  a  fra 
ternity.  I  know,"  quickly,  "  that  the  frats  are 
abused,  as  every  good  thing  is  abused,  but  funda 
mentally  they  're  good.  When  it  comes  to  hu 
manizing  a  man,  rounding  him  out,  which  is  the 
purpose  of  college  life,  they  're  just  as  essential 
as  a  course  in  the  sciences." 

"  Unfortunately,"  commented  Roberts,  drily, 
"  the  attitude  of  a  student  to  the  Greeks  is  a  good 
deal  like  that  of  woman  to  man.  She  can't  marry 
until  she  is  asked.  I  was  likewise  never  suffi 
ciently  urged." 

"  In  that  case,"  laughed  Armstrong,  "  I  '11 
have  to  acquit  you  on  that  count.  There  was  n't, 
however,  anything  to  prevent  you  warming  up 
socially.  No  student  has  to  be  asked  to  do  that. 
You  and  Elice,  for  instance,  took  your  courses 
at  the  same  time.  Normally  you  would  have 
met  at  social  doings  on  a  hundred  occasions; 
and  still  you  have  never  really  done  so  until 
to-night,  several  years  after  you  were  grad 
uated.  You  can't  square  yourself  on  that 
score." 

[57] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  No,"  acquiesced  Roberts  with  judicial  slow 
ness;  "and  still  a  man  with  one  suit  of  clothes 
and  that  decidedly  frayed  at  the  seams  labors 
under  appreciable  social  disadvantages  even  in  a 
democratic  university."  He  smiled,  a  tolerant, 
reminiscent  smile.  ;'  I  recall  participating  tenta 
tively  a  bit  early  in  my  career,  but  the  result  was 
not  entirely  a  success.  My  stock  went  below  par 
with  surprising  rapidity;  so  I  took  it  off  the 
market." 

Armstrong  glanced  at  the  listening  girl  swiftly. 
Purposely  he  was  trying  to  draw  the  other  man 
out  —  and  for  her  benefit.  But  whatever  the 
girl  was  thinking  her  face  was  non-committal. 
He  returned  to  the  attack. 

"All  right,"  he  shifted  easily;  "we'll  pass 
charge  number  two  likewise.  One  thing  at  least, 
however,  you'll  admit  you  could  have  done.  You 
might  have  taken  up  athletics.  You  were  asked 
often  enough,  I  know  personally  —  nature  did  a 
lot  for  you  in  some  things ;  and  as  for  clothes  — 
the  fewer  you  have  in  athletics  the  better.  You 
could  have  mixed  there  and  warmed  up  to  your 
heart's  content.  Is  n't  it  so?  " 

This  time  Roberts  laughed. 

"  I  was  engaged  in  athletics  —  all  the  time  I 
was  in  the  University,"  he  refuted. 

r  58 1 


Pleasure 

"  The  deuce  you  were !  I  never  knew  before  — 
All  right,  I  bit.  How  was  that,  Darley?  " 

"  Simple  enough,  I  'm  sure,"  drily.  "  I  ven 
ture  the  proposition  that  I  sawed  more  wood  and 
stoked  more  furnaces  during  my  course  than  any 
other  student  that  ever  matriculated.  I  had  four 
on  the  string  constantly." 

Armstrong  sank  back  in  his  chair  lazily. 

"  All  right,  Darley,"  he  accepted;  "  when  you 
won't  be  serious  there  's  no  use  trying  to  make 
you  so.  I  surrender." 

"Serious!"  Roberts  looked  at  the  younger 
man  peculiarly.  "Serious!"  he  echoed  low. 
"  That 's  just  where  your  diagnosis  fails,  my 
friend.  It 's  the  explanation  as  well  why  I  never 
did  those  '  other  things,'  as  you  call  them,  that 
students  do  and  so  humanize  themselves."  Invol 
untarily  his  eyes  went  to  the  girl's  face,  searched 
it  with  a  glance.  "  It  is,  I  suppose,  the  curse 
of  my  life:  the  fact  that  I  can't  be  different. 
I  seem  to  be  incapable  of  digressing,  even  if 
I  want  to." 

For  answer  Armstrong  smiled  his  sceptical 
smile;  but  the  girl  did  not  notice.  Instead,  for 
the  first  time,  she  asked  a  question. 

"  And  you  still  think  to  digress,  to  enjoy  one 
self,  is  not  serious,  Mr.  Roberts?  "  she  asked. 

f  59  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  No,  emphatically  not.  I  'm  human,  I  hope, 
even  if  I  have  n't  been  humanized.  I  think  en 
joyment  of  life  by  the  individual  is  its  chief  end. 
It 's  nature." 

"  But  you  said  - 

"Pardon  me,"  quickly;  "  I  couldn't  have 
made  myself  clear  then.  We  're  each  of  us  a  law 
unto  himself,  Miss  Gleason.  What  is  pleasure 
to  me,  perhaps,  is  not  pleasure  to  you.  I  said  I 
was  never  asked  to  join  a  fraternity.  It 's  true. 
It 's  equally  true,  though,  that  I  would  n't  have 
joined  had  I  been  asked.  So  with  the  social  side. 
I  would  n't  have  been  a  society  man  if  I  'd  had 
a  new  dress  suit  annually  and  a  valet  to  keep  it 
pressed.  I  simply  was  not  originally  bent  that 
way.  Killing  time,  politely  called  recreation, 
merely  fails  to  afford  me  pleasure.  For  that  rea 
son  I  avoid  it.  I  claim  no  credit  for  so  doing. 
It 's  not  consecration  to  duty  at  all,  it 's  pure 
selfishness.  I  'm  as  material  as  a  steam  engine. 
My  pleasure  comes  from  doing  things;  material 
things,  practical  things.  For  a  given  period  of 
time  my  pleasure  is  in  being  able  to  point  to  a 
given  object  accomplished  and  say  to  myself: 
there,  '  Darley,  old  man,  you  started  out  to 
do  it  and  you  Ve  done  it.'  Is  that  clear,  Miss 
Gleason?" 

[60] 


Pleasure 

"  And  if  you  don't  accomplish  it,  what  then?  " 
commented  Armstrong. 

"  I  shall  at  least  have  tried,"  returned  the  other, 
carelessly.  "  I  can  call  the  attention  of  Saint 
Peter  to  that  fact." 

Armstrong  leaned  back  farther  in  his  chair. 
His  eyes  sought  the  ceiling  whimsically. 

'  That  would  naturally  bring  up  the  old  prob< 
lem,"  he  philosophized,  "  of  whether  it  were  better 
to  attempt  to  do  a  thing  and  fail  or  not  to  make 
the  attempt  and  retain  one's  self-confidence." 

In  her  place  the  girl  shifted  restlessly,  as 
though  the  digression  annoyed  her. 

'  To  return  to  the  starting  point,"  she  said, 
"  you  think  the  greatest  pleasure  in  life  is  in 
action,  not  in  passive  sensation?  We  lazy 
folks  - 

"  Pardon  me,"  interrupted  Armstrong,  "  but 
I  want  to  anticipate  and  enter  an  objection. 
Some  of  us  are  n't  lazy.  We  're  merely  economi 
cal  of  our  energies." 

'  We  lazy  folks,"  repeated  the  girl,  evenly, 
"  are  sometimes  inclined  to  think  differently." 

This  time  Roberts  hesitated,  his  face  a  blank 
as  he  studied  the  two  before  him.  Just  percep 
tibly  he  leaned  forward.  His  big  hands  closed 
on  the  chair  arms. 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"Are  you  really  interested  in  hearing  the  defi 
nition  of  pleasure  as  I  have  formulated  it  for 
myself,  Miss  Gleason?  "  he  asked;  "  I  repeat,  as 
I  have  formulated  it  for  myself? " 

"  Yes." 

Again  Roberts  hesitated,  his  face  inscrutable, 
his  body  motionless  as  one  asleep. 

"  Pleasure,"  he  began  low,  "  is  power;  con 
scious,  unquestionable,  superior  power.  In  a 
small  way  we  all  experience  it  when  we  are 
hungry  and  have  the  ability  to  satisfy  that 
hunger.  The  big  animal  feels  it  when  the  lesser 
animal  is  within  its  reach  and  the  big  animal 
knows  it.  The  lover  tastes  it  when  he  knows  an 
other  returns  that  love  completely,  irresistibly  — 
knows,  I  say.  The  student  comprehends  it  when 
he  is  conscious  of  ability  to  solve  the  problem 
presented,  to  solve  it  unqualifiedly.  The  master 
of  men  realizes  it  when  those  in  his  command 
obey  him  implicitly ;  when  his  word  is  law.  Pleas 
ure  is  not  necessarily  an  exercise  of  that  power, 
in  fact  is  not  generally  so;  but  it  lies  in  the  con 
sciousness  of  ability  to  exercise  it  at  will.  For 
the  big  animal  to  annihilate  the  less  would  bring 
pain,  not  pleasure.  Hunger  satisfied  is  passivity, 
not  pleasure.  And  so  on  down  the  list.  Superior, 
conscious  power  exercised  defeats  its  own  pur- 

[62] 


Pleasure 

pose.  It  is,  as  men  say,  unsportsmanlike.  Held 
in  reserve,  passive,  completely  under  control,  it 
makes  of  a  human  being  a  god.  This  to  me  is 
pleasure,  Miss  Gleason." 

For  a  moment  after  he  ceased  speaking  the 
room  was  quiet.  Armstrong  still  sat  staring  at 
the  ceiling;  but  the  smile  had  left  his  lips.  The 
girl  was  watching  the  visitor  frankly,  the  tiny 
pucker,  that  meant  concentration,  between  her 
eyebrows.  Roberts  himself  broke  the  silence. 

'  You  Ve  heard  my  definition,  Miss  Gleason," 
he  laughed;  "  and  no  doubt  think  me  a  savage  or 
something  of  that  kind.  I  shan't  attempt  to 
deny  it  if  you  do  either.  Just  as  a  matter  of  curi 
osity  and  of  interest,  though,  so  long  as  the  sub 
ject  is  up,  I  'd  like  to  hear  your  own  definition." 
Of  a  sudden  he  remembered.  "  And  yours,  too, 
Armstrong,"  he  added. 

The  wrinkle  vanished  from  the  girl's  forehead. 
She  smiled  in  turn.  An  observer  might  have  said 
she  sparred  for  time.  "  After  you,  Steve,"  she 
accepted. 

Armstrong  shifted  in  his  seat  elaborately. 

'  This  is  indeed  a  bit  sudden,"  he  remarked 
in  whimsical  commonplace,  "  however  -  His 
hands  went  into  his  pockets  automatically. 
His  eyes  followed  a  seam  on  the  paper  over- 

[  63  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

head   back   and   forth,   before   halting  prepara 
torily. 

"  Pleasure  with  me,"  he  began,  "  is  not  practi 
cal,  but  very  much  the  reverse."  His  lips  twitched 
humorously.  "  Neither  has  it  reference  to  any 
superior  power.  I  would  n't  give  one  single 
round  penny,  providing  I  had  it,  to  be  able  to 
whistle  and  have  a  thousand  of  my  fellows  dance 
to  the  tune  —  against  their  wishes.  If  I  could 
whistle  so  sweetly  or  so  enchantingly  that  they  'd 
caper  nimbly  because  they  wanted  to,  because  the 
contagion  was  irresistible,  then  -  The  whimsi 
cal  look  passed  as  suddenly  as  it  had  come. 
"  Pleasure  with  me,  I  think,"  he  continued  so 
berly,  "  means  appreciation  by  my  fellow-men,  in 
big  things  and  in  little  things.  I  'm  a  kind  of 
sunflower,  and  that  is  my  sun.  I  'd  like  to  be  able 
to  play  marbles  so  well  that  the  kids  would  stare 
in  amazement;  to  fashion  such  entrancing  mud 
pies  that  the  little  girls  would  want  to  eat  them; 
to  play  ball  so  cleverly  that  the  boys  would  always 
choose  me  first  in  making  up  sides;  to  dance  so 
divinely  that  the  girls  would  dream  about  it  after 
ward;  to  tell  so  entertaining  a  story  that  men 
would  let  their  cigars  go  dead  while  they  listened, 
or  under  different  circumstances  the  ladies  would 
split  their  gloves  applauding  —  if  they  happened 

[64] 


I  'm  tired  of  reading  about  life  and  hearing  about  life. 

I  want  to  live  it " 

[Page  66} 


Pleasure 

to  have  them  on;  last  of  all,  to  write  a  novel  so 
different  and  interesting  that  the  reading  public, 
and  that  means  every  one,  would  look  on  the 
cover  after  they  'd  turned  the  last  sheet  to  see 
who  the  deuce  did  it;  then  trim  the  lamp  afresh, 
loosen  their  collar  comfortably  and  read  it 
through  again.  This  to  me  spells  pleasure  in 
capitals  all  the  way  through:  plain  appreciation, 
pure  and  simple,  neither  more  nor  less." 

Again  silence  followed,  but  a  far  different 
silence  than  before.  Of  that  difference  the  three 
in  the  room  were  each  acutely  conscious;  yet  no 
one  made  comment.  They  merely  waited,  waited 
until,  without  preface,  the  girl  completed  the  tacit 
agreement. 

"  And  pleasure  to  me,"  she  said  slowly,  "  means 
something  different  than  it  does  to  either  of  you. 
In  a  way,  with  you  both  pleasure  is  active.  With 
me  it 's  passive."  She  laughed  shortly,  almost 
nervously.  "Maybe  I'm  lazy,  I  don't  know; 
but  I  've  worked  so  long  that  I  'm  weary  to  death 
of  commonplace  and  repression  and  denial  and 
-  dinginess.  I  want  to  be  a  free  individual  and 
have  leisure  and  opportunity  to  feel  things,  not 
to  do  them.  I  'm  selfish,  hopelessly  selfish,  mor 
bidly  selfish;  but  I  am  as  I  am.  I  'm  like  the 
plant  that 's  raised  in  a  cellar  and  can't  leave 

5  [  65  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

because  its  roots  are  sunk  there  deep.  I  want  to 
be  transplanted  perforce  out  into  the  sunshine. 
I  'm  hungry  for  it,  hungry.  I  Ve  caught  glimpses 
of  things  beyond  through  my  cellar  window,  but 
glimpses  only.  I  repeat,  I  want  to  feel  unham 
pered.  I  know  pretty  things  and  artistic  things 
when  I  see  them,  and  I  want  them:  to  wear,  to 
live  among,  to  look  at.  I  want  to  travel,  to  hear 
real  music,  to  feel  real  operas  and  know  real  plays 

-  not  imitations.  I  'm  tired  of  reading  about 
life  and  hearing  about  life.  I  want  to  live  it,  be  a 
part  of  it  —  not  a  distant  spectator.  That  is 
what  pleasure  means  to  me  now;  to  escape  the 
tyranny  of  repression  and  of  pennies  and  be  free 

-free!" 

For  the  third  time  silence  fell;  a  silence  that 
lasted  longer  far  than  before,  a  silence  which  each 
was  loth  to  break.  While  she  was  speaking,  at 
first  Armstrong  had  shifted  about  in  his  chair 
restlessly;  at  the  last,  his  hands  deep  in  his 
pockets,  he  had  sat  still.  Once  he  had  looked  at 
her,  peculiarly,  the  tolerant  half  smile  still  on  his 
lips;  but  she  had  not  returned  the  look,  and  bit 
by  bit  it  vanished.  That  was  all. 

For  a  minute  perhaps,  until  it  became  awkward 
at  least,  the  silence  lasted  —  to  be  broken  finally 
by  the  girl  herself.  Slowly  she  arose  from  her 

[66] 


Pleasure 

seat  and,  tall,  slender,  deliberately  graceful,  came 
from  her  place  in  the  shadow  into  the  light. 

"  I  'm  a  bit  ashamed  to  have  brought  out  the 
family  skeleton  and  aired  it  to-night,"  she  said 
evenly.  Under  drooping  lids  she  looked  from 
one  face  before  her  to  the  other  swiftly.  "  I  don't 
know  why  I  did  it  exactly.  I  'm  a  bit  irrespon 
sible,  I  guess,  to-night.  We  are  all  so,  I  think, 
at  times."  As  deliberately  as  she  did  everything 
she  took  a  seat.  Her  hands  folded  in  her  lap. 
"  If  you  '11  forget  it  I  '11  promise  not  to  offend 
in  the  same  way  again."  She  smiled  and  changed 
the  subject  abruptly.  "  I  see  by  the  papers,"  she 
digressed,  "  that  at  last  we  're  to  have  a  trolley 
line  in  town.  The  same  authority  informs  us  as 
well  that  you  are  the  moving  spirit,  Mr.  Roberts." 

'  Yes."  It  was  the  ordinary  laconic,  non 
committal  man  of  business  who  answered.  A 
pause,  then  a  significant  amplification.  '  This 
is  the  age  of  the  trolley.  There  are  a  hundred 
miles  of  suburban  lines  contracted  for  as  well. 
No  one  will  recognize  this  country  as  it  is  now 
ten  years  hence." 

"  And  this  suburban  line  you  speak  of  -  -  I  sup 
pose  you  're  the  spirit  back  of  that  too?  "  queried 
the  girl. 

'  Yes."    This  time  there  was  no  amplification. 

[67] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  So  that  was  what  you  had  in  mind  the 
other  night  when  we  were  talking,  —  what  you 
wouldn't  tell  me,"  commented  Armstrong,  a 
shade  frostily. 

"  One  thing,  yes."  Roberts  ignored  the  tone 
absolutely.  "  I  was  not  at  liberty  to  make  the 
announcement  at  that  time.  The  deal  was  just 
closed  last  night." 

Armstrong  made  no  further  comment,  but  his 
high  spirits  of  the  early  evening  had  vanished 
not  to  return,  and  shortly  thereafter  Roberts 
arose  to  go.  Promptly,  seemingly  intentionally 
so,  Armstrong  followed.  In  the  vestibule,  his 
hat  in  his  hand,  by  design  or  chance  he  caught 
the  visitor's  eye. 

"  Pardon  me  a  moment,"  he  apologized,  "I  — 
forgot  something." 

Perforce  Roberts,  waited  while  the  other  man 
returned  to  the  tiny  library  they  had  just  vacated. 
The  girl  was  standing  within  precisely  as  when 
they  had  left  and,  as  Armstrong  did  not  close  the 
door,  the  visitor  knew  to  a  certainty  that  his  pres 
ence  as  listener  and  spectator  was  intentional. 
It  wras  all  a  premeditated  scene,  the  climax  of  the 
evening. 

;'  By  the  way,  Elice,"  said  the  actor,  evenly, 
"  I  Ve  been  considering  that  Graham  offer  care- 

[68] 


Pleasure 

fully  since  I  spoke  to  you  about  it  the  other 
night."  He- did  not  look  at  her  but  stood  twirling 
his  hat  judicially  in  his  hand.  ;'  I  tried  to  con 
vince  myself  that  it  was  for  the  best  to  accept; 
but  I  failed.  I  told  him  so  to-day." 

There  was  a  pause. 

'  Yes,"  suggested  the  girl. 

Another  pause. 

"  I  hope  you  're  not  —  disappointed,  Elice." 

Still  another  pause,  appreciable,  though  shorter 
than  before. 

"  No;  I  'm  not  disappointed,"  replied  the  girl 
then.  At  last  Armstrong  had  glanced  up  and, 
without  looking  himself,  the  listener  knew  as  well 
as  though  he  had  seen  that  the  speaker  was  smil 
ing  steadily.  "  I  'm  not  disappointed  in  the  least, 
Steve." 


[69] 


CHAPTER   IV 

UNCERTAINTY 

IT  was  ten  minutes  after  three  on  the  following 
afternoon  when  Stephen  Armstrong,  in  the 
lightest  of  flannels  and  jauntiest  of  butterfly  ties, 
strolled  up  the  tree-lined  avenue  and  with  an  air 
of  comfortable  proprietorship  wandered  in  at  the 
Gleason  cottage.  A  movable  sprinkler  was  play 
ing  busily  on  the  front  lawn  and,  observing  that 
the  surrounding  sod  was  well  soaked,  with  lazy 
deliberation  he  shifted  it  to  a  new  quarter.  As 
he  approached  the  house  a  mother  wren  flitted 
away  before  his  face,  and  at  the  new  suggestion 
he  stood  peering  up  at  the  angle  under  the  eaves 
for  the  nest  that  he  knew  was  near  about.  Once, 
standing  there  with  the  hot  afternoon  sun  beat 
ing  down  upon  him,  he  whistled  in  imitation  of 
the  tiny  bird's  call;  nothing  developing,  he 
mounted  the  steps  and  pulled  the  old-fashioned 
knocker  familiarly. 

There    was    no    immediate    response    and    he 
pulled  again;    without  waiting  for  an  answer, 

[  70  1 


Uncertainty 

he  dropped  into  the  ever-convenient  hammock 
stretched  beside  the  door  and  swung  back  and 
forth  luxuriously.  Unconsciously,  and  for  the 
same  reason  that  a  bird  sings  —  because  it  is  care 
lessly  oblivious  of  anything  save  the  happiness 
of  the  moment  —  he  began  whistling  softly  to 
himself:  without  definite  time  or  metre,  subcon 
sciously  improvising.  Perhaps  a  dozen  times 
he  swung  back  and  forth;  then  the  whistling 
ceased. 

"  Anything  doing  at  this  restaurant  this  after 
noon,  Elice?  "  he  plunged  without  preface.  An 
expansive  smile  made  up  for  the  lack  of  conven 
tional  greeting.  "  I  'm  as  hungry  as  those  little 
wrens  I  hear  cheeping  up  there  somewhere." 

The  smile  was  contagious  and  the  girl  returned 
it  unconsciously. 

"  I  believe  you  're  always  hungry,  Steve  Arm 
strong,"  she  commented. 

"  I  know  it.    I  was  born  that  way." 

"  And  you  never  grew  up." 

"  Physically,  yes,  unfortunately.  Otherwise 
-  I  'm  fighting  to  the  last  ditch.  I  believe  about 
three  of  those  cookies  you  make  —  and,  by  the 
way,  they  're  much  better  than  mother  used  to 
manufacture  —  will  fill  the  void.  Don't  you  hear 
that  cheeping? " 

[71] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

The  girl  hesitated,  disappeared,  and  returned. 

*  Thank  you,  Elice.  Sit  down  over  there, 
please,  where  I  can  see  you.  It  makes  them  taste 
better.  That 's  right.  Thank  you,  again.  I  'm 
going  to  pay  my  bill  now  by  telling  you  your 
fortune.  You  're  going  to  make  a  great  cook." 

'  I  wonder,"  said  the  girl,  enigmatically. 

'  There  's  no  question  about  it.  And  for  good 
measure  I  'm  going  to  retail  the  latest  gossip. 
What,  by  the  way  and  as  a  preliminary,  do  you 
suppose  I  've  been  doing  all  day? " 

"  It 's  vacation.     Fishing,  I  presume." 

"Stung!  I  did  go  fishing  this  morning  — 
four  o'clock,  caught  one  too;  but  it  was  so  small 
and  innocent  looking  that  I  apologized  and  threw 
it  back.  That  was  n't  what  I  referred  to,  how 
ever.  You  '11  have  to  guess  again." 

"  I  have  n't  the  slightest  idea." 

;<  I  'm  compelled  to  assist  you  then.  I  Ve  been 
helping  the  Randalls  settle.  Harry  'phoned  me 
early  this  morning  and  wanted  to  know  if  I  did  n't 
desire  to  be  useful ;  said  he  would  exchange  com 
pliments  sometime."  A  significant  pause,  then 
a  reminiscent  sigh.  "  Every  vertebra  in  my  spinal 
column  aches  with  an  individual  and  peculiar 
pain." 

'  They  're  really  settled  at  last,  are  they?  "  in- 

[7*] 


Uncertainty 

quired  the  girl,  interestedly.  "  I  can  hardly  wait 
to  see  how  things  look." 

"  I  don't  blame  you  for  being  curious,  Elice," 
sympathized  Armstrong.  ''  I  felt  a  bit  the  same 
way  myself."  A  rueful  grin.  "  Merely  among 
ourselves,  however,  and  as  a  word  of  advice  be 
tween  friends,  you  'd  better  curb  your  impatience 
for  about  a  week  longer." 

"  And  why?  You  're  darkly  mysterious,  as 
usual." 

"  Mysterious !  Heavens,  no ;  merely  compas 
sionate."  He  held  up  his  hand  for  inspection. 
"  Look  at  that  blister.  It 's  as  big  as  a  dime  and 
feels  like  a  prune.  They  're  not  done  yet  and 
they  'd  induce  you  to  duplicate  it  if  they  ever  got 
you  into  their  clutches.  So  long  as  it 's  all  in  the 
family  I  think  one  blister  is  about  sufficient. 
Better  lay  low  for  a  week  anyway." 

"  Steve,"  the  voice  was  severe,  "  you  're  simply 
impossible.  They  'd  never  forgive  you  if  they 
knew  you  talked  that  way." 

'  Yes,  they  would,"  easily.  :'  I  promised  to 
come  back  and  help  complete  the  job."  Of  a 
sudden  he  laughed  boyishly,  reminiscently. 
"  Seriously,  Elice,  I  Ve  had  a  memorable  day." 
He  laughed  again.  "  Pardon  me,  but  I  Ve 
wanted  to  do  that  for  hours  and  did  n't  dare. 

[73] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Such  a  mixture  of  furnishings  as  those  two  people 
have   accumulated   you   never   saw  brought  to 
gether  under  one  roof  before  in  your  life." 
"Mixture,  how?    I  fail  to  see  the  joke." 
'  You  will  when  you  visit  them,  all  right.     I 
warn  you  in  advance  to  be  discreet."    He  looked 
at    his    companion    with    whimsical    directness. 

'  You  see  it  was  this  way.  They  started  out 
together  to  buy  things,  with  Margery  at  the  helm. 
She 's  not  accustomed  particularly  to  consider 
cost  and  went  at  the  job  with  avidity.  She  's 
methodical  also,  you  know,  and  began  at  the 
front  door.  In  fancy  she  entered  the  reception 
hall,  and  the  first  need  that  appealed  to  her  was 
a  rug.  She  picked  out  one.  It 's  Oriental,  and 
a  beauty:  cost  one  hundred  dollars  if  a  cent. 
Next,  in  her  mind's  eye,  she  noticed  the  bare  win 
dows  —  curtains  were  required,  of  course.  So  she 
selected  them.  They  're  the  real  thing  and  two 
pairs  —  another  hundred,  I  '11  wager.  Following 
came  three  or  four  big  leather  chairs  —  nothing 
better  in  town.  I  can  fancy  old  Harry's  heart 
sinking  by  this  time ;  but  he  did  n't  say  a  word 

-yet.  Margery  took  another  spurt  and  went 
on  to  the  living-room.  In  consequence  another 
big  rug  —  and  another  hundred  withdrawn  from 
circulation.  A  jolly  big  davenport  —  more  cur- 

r  74 1 


Uncertainty 

tains ;  —  and  then  something  happened.  They 
told  me  so,  but  I  did  n't  need  to  be  told;  for  it 
was  then  that  Harry  butted  in.  They  were  bank 
rupt  already,  and  he  knew  it.  He  simply  had  to 
call  a  halt.  It 's  the  funniest  contrast  I  ever  saw, 
and  pathetic  too ;  for  from  this  point  on  the  whole 
house  is  a  nightmare.  Cheap!  he  bought  the 
cheapest  things  he  could  find  and  even  then  he 
got  scared.  By  the  time  they  got  through  the 
dining-room  he  must  have  been  a  nervous  wreck, 
for  the  kitchen  and  upstairs  furniture  is  second 
hand,  every  stick  and  frying  pan;  and  even 
then-  The  humor  left  the  speaker's  face. 
"  It 's  a  shame  to  make  fun  of  it,  though,  Elice. 
They  're  going  to  replace  it  all  as  soon  as  they  can." 

For  a  moment  neither  said  anything. 

"And  Margery?"  suggested  the  girl  at  last. 

"  That 's  where  the  little  tragedy  crops  out. 
You  see  we  began  the  way  she  had  begun  —  at 
the  front  door.  She  was  pleased  as  a  boy  with 
new  boots  at  the  reception  hall.  Still  cheerful 
over  the  living-room.  Non-committal  in  the 
diner.  From  there  on  Harry  and  I  carted  things 
upstairs  and  juggled  with  them  alone  and  accord 
ing  to  our  own  ideas." 

For  the  second  time  there  was  silence;  then, 
low-voiced,  came  another  suggestion. 

r  75 1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"And  — Harry?" 

"  He 's  game,"  admiringly.  "He  may  be  think 
ing  a  lot  —  I  Ve  no  doubt  he  is;  but  he  's  not  let 
ting  out  a  peep  or  making  a  sign.  He  pretended 
Margery  was  just  tired  out  and  bundled  her  out 
of  doors  under  the  trees.  That 's  one  thing 
they  Ve  got  at  least :  a  whole  yard  full  of  grand 
father  elms.  He  sort  of  looked  at  me  cross-eyed 
while  he  was  doing  it  to  see  if  I  caught  on,  but 
I  was  blind  as  a  post.  By  the  way,  I  nearly  for 
got  to  mention  it,  but  you  and  I  are  invited  there 
for  dinner  this  coming  Thursday  —  sort  of  a 
house-warming  and  appreciation  of  my  efforts 
combined." 

"  For  dinner,  so  soon?"  The  girl  stared  in 
credulously.  '  I  don't  believe  Margery  ever 
cooked  a  meal  in  her  life." 

"  She  is  n't  going  to  try  to  yet,  she  informed 
me,  so  be  of  good  cheer.  That  sort  of  thing  is 
all  to  come  later  on,  with  the  replaced  furniture. 
At  present  she's  to  have  a  maid  and  take  obser 
vations."  The  speaker  laughed  characteristi 
cally.  "  I  asked  her  if  she  referred  to  the  sort  of 
individual  my  mother  used  to  call  a  hired  girl, 
but  she  stuck  to  '  maid.'  It  seems  they  are  to 
pay  her  six  dollars  a  week.  Hired  girls  only 
command  four." 

[76] 


Uncertainty 

Elice  Gleason  joined  in  the  laugh  sympatheti 
cally.  The  other's  good  spirits  was  irresistible. 

'  You  seem  to  have  been  gathering  valuable 
data,"  she  commented  drily. 

"  I  have  indeed.  I  could  n't  well  help  it.  I 
was  even  forced  into  the  conviction  that  it  was 
intended  I  should  so  gather."  He  smiled  into  his 
companion's  eyes  whimsically.  '  They  're  deep, 
those  Randalls.  After  all  is  said  I  fancy  my 
assistance  was  acquired  not  so  much  from  any 
desire  to  save  as  to  point  a  valuable  object  lesson; 
scatter  the  contagion,  as  it  were."  He  paused 
meaningly  and  smiled  again.  '  Elice  mine, 
we  're  in  grave  danger,  you  and  I.  That  worthy 
pair  have  designs  upon  our  future.  They  are 
in  the  position  of  a  certain  class,  famed  in  adage, 
who  desire  company.  The  dinner  is  only  another 
illustration  of  the  same  point." 

Elice  Gleason  returned  the  smile,  but  quietly. 
She  made  no  further  comment,  however,  and  the 
subject  dropped. 

In  the  hammock  Armstrong  swung  back  and 
forth  in  lazy  well-being-.  Overhead  the  mother 

v  CJ 

wren,  a  mere  brown  shadow,  flitted  in  return  over 
their  heads.  There  was  an  instant's  clamor  from 
hidden  fledglings,  and  silence  as  the  shadow 
passed  back  once  more  into  the  sunshine.  Watch- 

[77] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

ing  through  half-closed  eyes,  comfortably  whim 
sical,  Armstrong  gazed  into  space  where  the 
shadow  had  vanished. 

'  What  a  responsibility  the  care  of  a  family 
must  be,"  he  commented,  "  particularly  in  this 
hot  weather.  That  wren  certainly  has  my  sym 
pathy  —  and  respect."  He  paused  to  give  the 
swinging  hammock  a  fresh  impulse.  "  I  wonder 
though,"  he  drifted  on,  "  that  is,  if  it  is  permis 
sible  to  tangle  up  a  variety  of  thoughts,  if  it 's 
any  harder  than  it  is  to  attempt  to  pull  an  idea 
out  of  one's  self  by  the  roots  and  work  it  up  into 
readable  form  with  the  thermometer  above  ninety 
in  the  shade  —  I  wonder." 

Elice  Gleason  was  observing  him  now,  pecul 
iarly,  understandingly. 

"How  is  the  book  coming,  anyway,  Steve?" 
she  asked  directly. 

'  Which  book?  "  smilingly. 

"  The  book,  of  course." 

'  They  're  all  the  books  —  or  were  at  one 
time."  A  trace,  the  first,  of  irony  crept  into  his 
voice.  '  To  be  specific,  however,  masterpiece 
number  one  has  just  completed  its  eighteenth 
round  trip  East,  and  is  taking  a  deserved  rest. 
Masterpiece  number  two  is  en  route  somewhere 
between  here  and  New  York,  either  coming  or 

[  78  1 


Uncertainty 

going,  on  its  eleventh  journey.  Number  three 
has  only  five  tallies  to  its  credit  —  but  hope 
springs  eternal.  Number  four,  the  baby,  still 
adolescent,  has  temporarily  halted  in  its  growth 
while  I  succor  a  needy  benedict  friend  in  distress. 
I  believe  that  covers  the  family." 

The  characterization  was  typically  nonsensi 
cal;  but,  sympathetic,  the  listener  read  between 
the  sentences  and  understood. 

"  Is  n't  the  new  one  coming  well? "  she  asked 
low.  '  Tell  me,  Steve,  honest." 

"  Coming  well,  Elice!  What  a  question  to  ask 
of  probably  America's  foremost  living  writer!  " 
The  speaker  was  still  smiling.  '  What  reprehen 
sible  misgiving,  suspicion  even !  "  Sudden  si 
lence,  wherein  bit  by  bit  the  smile  faded.  Silence 
continued  until  in  its  place  came  a  new  expres 
sion,  one  that  changed  the  boy's  face  absolutely, 
made  it  a  man's  face  —  and  not  a  young  one  at 
that. 

"  Coming  well,  Elice?"  he  repeated.  ''Honest, 
as  you  say,  I  don't  know."  The  hammock  had 
become  still,  but  the  speaker  did  not  notice, 
merely  lying  there  looking  up  into  the  sunshine 
and  the  blue  unseeingly.  "  Sometimes  I  think 
it  is,  and  then  again  —  if  one  could  only  know 
about  such  things,  know,  not  hope  —  of  course 

[  79  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

every  writer  in  his  own  soul  fancies  —  and  his 
friends,  for  that  matter,  are  just  about  as  use 
ful  -  The  speaker  drew  himself  together  with 
a  shrug.  For  an  instant  his  jaw  locked  decisively. 
"  I  know  I  'm  more  or  less  irresponsible,  as  a 
rule,  Elice,"  he  analyzed  swiftly,  "  and  probably 
create  the  impression  that  I  'm  even  more  irre 
sponsible  than  I  am;  but  in  this  thing,  at  least, 
I  'm  serious.  From  the  bottom  of  my  soul  I  want 
to  write  well,  want  to.  As  I  said  before,  some 
times  I  think  I  can  —  auto-intoxication  maybe 
it  is,  I  don't  know  —  and  I  'm  as  happy  as  a 
child,  or  a  god,  or  a  bird,  or  any  completely  happy 
thing  you  can  fancy.  Then  again,  as  it 's  been 
the  past  week,  or  the  past  month  for  that  matter, 
I  don't  seem  to  be  able  to  do  anything  new.  On 
top  of  this  everything  I  've  already  done  fairly 
personifies  and  leers  at  me.  I  get  so  that  I  fairly 
hate  myself  for  the  utter  failure  that  I  am,  that 
at  least  I  have  been  so  far.  I  get  to  analyzing 
myself ;  I  can't  help  it,  and  the  result  is  n't 
pleasant.  I  've  been  doing  so  lately.  I  don't  over 
estimate  myself  in  the  least,  Elice  girl.  Practi 
cally,  commercially,  I  'm  a  zero.  I  'm  simply 
not  built  that  way.  If  I  'm  ever  of  any  use  in  the 
world,  ever  amount  to  anything  whatever,  it  will 
be  in  an  impractical,  artistic  way.  Whether  I  '11 

f  80  1 


Uncertainty 

ever  win  out  so  —  oh,  for  light,  for  light !  .  .  . 
Frankly,  the  new  novel  is  going  badly,  Elice, 
cursedly  bad!  " 

"  I  'm  sorry,  Steve.    You  know  - 

"  Yes,  I  know." 

"  I  Ve  believed  always,  and  still  believe  —  " 

"  Yes,  I  know  that  too." 

'  You  Ve  got  it  in  you  to  win;  I  know  it,  and 
you  know  it.  You  've  done  good  work  already, 
lots  of  it,  and  - 

'Wade  into  him  and  lick  him!"  bitterly. 
"  He  's  only  three  sizes  larger  than  you  are,  and 
afraid  --  I  know  you  can  lick  him.  Wade  in!  " 

The  girl  said  nothing. 

"  Forgive  me,  Elice,"  with  quick  contrition. 
'  That  was  nasty  of  me,  I  confess.  But  I  'm 
sore  to-day,  raw.  It 's  genius  I  suppose,"  sarcas 
tically,  "  genius  unappreciated." 

Still  the  girl  said  nothing. 

"  If  I  could  only  get  a  ray  of  light,  a  lead,  the 
flutter  of  a  signal  from  outside  the  wall.  But  I 
keep  hammering  my  head  at  it  day  after  day, 
and  it  remains  precisely  as  it  was  years  ago  when 
I  began.  It 's  maddening." 

Yet  the  girl  was  silent,  waiting  silent. 

"  And,  last  of  all,  if  I  should  eventually  suc 
ceed,  should  break  through  into  my  own,  as  Dar- 

e  r  si  i 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

ley  Roberts  says,  even  then  —  from  any  point 
of  view  it  is  n't  a  cheerful  prospect." 

"As  Mr.  Roberts  says?  What  was  that, 
Steve?" 

"  I  referred  to  the  reward,  pecuniary  reward. 
He  figured  it  out  in  dollars  and  cents  once  when 
he  wanted  to  bring  me  out  of  the  clouds.  Look 
ing  at  it  that  way,  there  is  n't  much  to  the  game 
even  for  the  winners,  Elice." 

"  Not  much  if  you  win?  I  can't  believe  it, 
Steve.  I  always  supposed  - 

"  Everybody  does.  The  public,  the  uninitiated, 
are  long  on  supposing.  Even  the  would-be's 
like  myself  delude  themselves  and  build  air  castles 
until  some  hard-headed  friend  calls  the  turn. 
Then  —  no ;  there  really  is  n't  much  in  it,  Elice ; 
nothing  in  comparison  to  the  plums  in  the  busi 
ness  world.  That  job  of  Graham's,  for  instance, 
offers  greater  possibilities  than  success  even,  and 
when  it  comes  to  partial  success  or  failure !  It 's 
a  joke,  the  artistic  temperament  in  this  commer 
cial  twentieth  century,  a  tremendous  side-splitting 
joke!  One  nowadays  should  be  born  with  suckers 
on  his  fingers,  such  as  a  fly  has  on  its  feet,  so  that 
whenever  he  came  into  the  vicinity  of  a  bank  note 
it  would  stick  fast.  That  would  be  the  ideal  con 
dition,  the  greatest  natural  blessing,  now!  " 

[82] 


Uncertainty 

'  You  know  you  don't  mean  that,  Steve.  It 's 
hot  and  you  're  out  of  the  mood  to-day  —  that 's 
all.  To-morrow  will  be  different ;  you  '11  see 
things  straight  again." 

'  Thank  you,  Elice.  You  're  right,  as  usual. 
I  said  I  was  raw  to-day.  It 's  boyish  to  be  so 
too,  I  realize  that.  But  it 's  hard  sometimes, 
deucedly  hard,  when  others  are  doing  something 
and  getting  somewhere  to  see  yourself  standing 
still.  One  gets  to  thinking  and  imagining  things 
that  probably  don't  exist."  He  took  a  long 
breath.  "  It 's  this  thing  of  imagination  that 's 
worse  than  reality.  It  crawls  in  between  every 
thing  so;  and  somehow  you  can't  keep  it  out. 
It  gives  one  a  scare."  He  laughed  shortly,  ill 
at  ease.  "  It  even  makes  one  doubt  a  little  the 
people  one  believes  in  most :  take  you  and  me,  for 
instance.  In  my  sane  moments  I  know  nothing 
could  get  between  us;  but  sometimes  I  get  to 
imagining  —  times  like  the  last  few  days  when 
I  am  —  raw  —  that  we  're  gradually  drifting 
apart.  A  little  difference  of  opinion  comes  up 
and  imagination  magnifies  until  it  becomes  a 
mountain  and  —  I  know  I  'm  preposterous, 
Elice,  and  there  's  nothing  really  to  it,  but  the 
thing  's  been  on  my  mind  and  I  wanted  to  tell 
you  and  get  it  out  of  my  system."  He  had 

[83] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

hurried  on,  leading  up  to  the  point,  making  the 
situation  deliberately.  Now  he  turned  to  her, 
smiling  frankly.  ;'  It 's  preposterous,  is  n't  it, 
Elice?  Tell  me  so.  I  like  to  hear  you  say  it." 

"  Preposterous,  Steve?  "  The  girl  returned 
the  look,  but  for  some  reason,  probably  one  she 
herself  could  not  have  told,  she  did  not  smile.  She 
merely  looked  at  him,  steadily,  unwaveringly. 
'  I  have  never  thought  of  the  possibility  before, 
never  questioned.  Certainly  nothing  has  come 
between  us.  To  imagine  —  I  never  imagine  the 
unpleasant,  Steve." 

The  figure  in  the  hammock  shifted  restlessly, 
as  though  but  half  satisfied. 

"And  nothing  ever  will,  Elice?"  he  pressed. 
"  Say  that  just  to  please  me.  I  think  an  awful 
lot  of  you,  girl;  so  much  that  at  times  I  'm 
afraid." 

This  time  the  girl  smiled,  quietly,  very  quietly. 

"And  I  of  you,  Steve,"  she  echoed.  "  Must  I 
protest  that? " 

"  No,"  swiftly,  "  not  for  an  instant.  I  don't 
doubt,  mind.  ...  It 's  all  that  cursed  imagina 
tion  of  mine.  I  was  only  thinking  of  the  future. 
If  things  should  n't  come  my  way,  should  n't  — 
I  put  it  at  the  worst  possible  —  if  by  any  chance 
I  should  remain  a  —  failure  such  as  I  am  now 

f  84  1 


Uncertainty 

—  you  would  n't  mind  —  would  overlook  —  it 
would  n't  make  any  difference  at  all  with  you 
and  me,  would  it,  Elice?  " 

"  Steve,  you  must  n't  say  such  things  — 
must  n't,  I  say.  It 's  morbid.  I  won't  listen." 

"  But  tell  me,"  passionately,  "  what  I  asked. 
I  want  to  hear  you  say  it.  I  want  to  know." 

For  an  instant  the  girl  was  silent,  an  instant 
that  seemed  minutes  to  the  expectant  listener. 
For  the  second  time  she  met  him  eye  to  eye. 

"  Whether  or  not  you  become  famous  as  a 
writer,"  she  said  slowly,  "  won't  make  any  differ 
ence  in  the  least.  It 's  you  I  care  for,  Steve ;  you 
as  you  are  now  and  nothing  more."  The  voice 
paused  but  the  eyes  did  not  shift.  "  As  for  the 
future,  Steve  man,  I  can't  promise  nor  can  you. 
To  do  so  would  be  to  lie,  and  I  won't  lie.  I  say 
I  love  you;  you  as  you  are.  If  anything  ever 
should  come  between  us,  should,  I  say  —  you  sug 
gested  it  and  —  persist  —  it  will  be  because  of  a 
change  in  you  yourself."  For  the  second  time 
she  halted ;  then  she  smiled.  "  I  think  that 's  all 
there  is  to  say,"  she  completed. 

"  All!  "  With  a  buoyancy  unfeigned  the  man 
swung  out  of  the  hammock  upon  his  feet. 
'  That 's  just  the  beginning.  You  're  just  get 
ting  under  way,  Elice." 

[85] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"No,"  peremptorily;  "all — for  the  present 
at  least.  It 's  four  o'clock  of  the  afternoon,  you 
know,  and  the  neighbors  have  eyes  like  -  Look 
at  the  sun  shine !  .  .  .  You  've  scared  away  the 
wren  too,  and  the  brood  is  hungry.  Besides  it 's 
time  to  begin  dinner.  Cooks  should  n't  be  hin 
dered  ever."  She  turned  toward  the  door  deci 
sively.  '  You  may  stay  if  you  don't  bother 
again,"  she  smiled  over  her  shoulder.  "  Mean 
while  there  's  a  new  '  Life  '  and  a  July  '  Century,' 
-you  know  where,"  and  with  a  final  smile  she 
was  gone. 


[86] 


CHAPTER   V 

CERTAINTY 

FOUR  months  had  drifted  by;  again  the 
University  was  in  full  swing. 

Of  an  evening  in  late  October  at  this  time,  in 
the  common  living-room  which  joined  the  two 
private  rooms  in  the  suite  occupied  by  himself 
and  Darley  Roberts,  Stephen  Armstrong  was 
alone.  It  was  now  nearly  eleven  o'clock,  and  he 
had  come  in  directly  after  dinner,  ample  time  to 
have  prepared  his  work  for  the  next  day;  but  as 
yet  he  had  made  no  move  in  that  direction.  On 
the  roll-top  desk,  with  its  convenient  drop  light, 
was  an  armful  of  reference  books  and  two  late 
scientific  magazines.  They  were  still  untouched, 
however,  bound  tight  by  the  strap  with  which 
they  had  been  carried. 

But  one  sign  of  his  prolonged  presence  was 
visible  in  the  room.  That,  a  loose  pile  of  manu 
script  alternately  hastily  scribbled  and  painfully 
exact,  told  of  the  varying  moods  under  which  it 
had  been  produced ;  —  that  and  a  tiny  pile  of 

[87] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

cigarette  stumps  in  the  nearby  ash-tray,  some 
scarcely  lit  and  others  burned  to  a  tiny  stump, 
which  had  become  the  manuscripts'  invariable 
companion. 

For  more  than  an  hour  now,  however,  he  had 
riot  been  writing.  The  night  was  frosty  and  he 
had  lit  the  gas  in  the  imitation  fireplace.  The 
open  flame  had  proved  compellingly  fascinating 
and,  once  stretched  comfortably  in  the  big  Turk 
ish  rocker  before  it,  duty  had  called  less  and  less 
insistently  and  there  he  had  remained.  For  half 
an  hour  thereafter  he  had  scarcely  stirred;  then, 
without  warning,  he  had  risen.  On  the  mantel 
above  the  grate  was  a  collection  of  articles  in 
digenous  to  a  bachelor's  den:  a  box  half  filled 
with  cigars,  a  jar  of  tobacco,  a  collection  of  pipes, 
a  cut-glass  decanter  shaded  dull  red  in  the  electric 
light.  It  was  toward  the  latter  that  he  turned, 
not  by  chance  but  with  definite  purpose,  and  with 
out  hesitation  poured  a  whiskey  glass  level  full. 
There  was  no  attendant  siphon  or  water  conven 
ient  and  he  drank  the  liquor  raw  and  returned  the 
glass  to  its  place.  It  was  not  the  quasi-aesthetic 
tippling  of  comradery  but  the  deliberate  drinking 
of  one  with  a  cause,  real  or  fancied,  therefor  and 
for  its  effect;  and  as  he  drank  he  shivered  invol 
untarily  with  the  instinctive  aversion  to  raw 

[88] 


Certainty 

liquor  of  one  to  whom  the  action  has  not  become 
habitual.  Afterward  he  remained  standing  for 
a  moment  while  his  eyes  wandered  aimlessly 
around  the  familiar  room.  As  he  did  so  his  glance 
fell  upon  the  pile  of  text-books,  mute  reminder 
of  a  lecture  yet  unprepared,  and  for  an  instant 
he  stood  undecided.  With  a  characteristic  shrug 
of  distaste  and  annoyance,  of  dismissal  as  well, 
he  resumed  his  seat,  his  slippered  feet  spread  wide 
to  catch  the  heat. 

Another  half-hour  passed  so,  the  room  silent 
save  for  the  deliberate  ticking  of  a  big  wall  clock 
and  the  purr  of  the  gas  in  the  grate ;  at  last  came 
an  interruption:  the  metallic  clicking  of  a  latch 
key,  the  tramp  of  a  man's  feet  in  the  vestibule, 
and  Darley  Roberts  entered.  A  moment  after 
entering  the  newcomer  paused  attentive,  his 
glance  taking  in  every  detail  of  the  all  too  famil 
iar  scene;  deliberately,  as  usual,  he  hung  up  his 
top-coat  and  hat. 

'  Taking  it  comfortable-like,  I  see,"  he  com 
mented  easily  as  he  pulled  up  a  second  chair 
before  the  grate.  ;'  Knocked  off  for  the  evening, 
have  you? " 

"'Knocked  off?"  Armstrong  shrugged.  "I 
hardly  know.  I  have  n't  knocked  on  yet.  I  'm 
stuck  in  the  mud,  so  to  speak." 

[89] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Roberts  drew  the  customary  black  cigar  from 
his  waistcoat  pocket  and  clipped  the  end  method 
ically.  As  he  did  so,  apparently  by  chance,  his 
glance  swept  the  mantel  above  the  grate,  and, 
returning,  took  in  the  testimony  of  the  desk 
with  its  unopened  text-books  and  pile  of  scat 
tered  manuscript.  Equally  without  haste  he  lit 
a  match  and  puffed  until  the  weed  was  well 
aglow. 

"  Any  assistance  a  friend  can  give?  "  he  prof 
fered  directly.  '  We  all  get  tangled  at  times,  I 
guess.  At  least  every  one  I  know  does." 

Armstrong's  gaze  left  the  fire  and  fastened  on 
his  companion  peculiarly. 

"  Do  you  yourself?  "  he  asked  bluntly. 

"  Often." 

'  That 's  news.  I  fancied  you  were  immune. 
What,  if  I  may  ask,  do  you  do  at  such  times  to 
effect  your  release? " 

"  Go  to  bed,  ordinarily,  and  sleep  while  the  mud 
is  drying  up.  There  's  usually  a  big  improve 
ment  by  morning." 

"  And  when  there  is  n't  — 

Roberts  smiled,  the  tight-jawed  smile  of  a 
fighter. 

"  It 's  a  case  of  pull,  then;  a  pull  as  though 
Satan  himself  were  just  behind  and  in  hot  pur- 

[90] 


Certainty 

suit.    Things  are  bound  to  give  if  one  pulls  hard 
enough." 

Armstrong's  face  returned  to  the  grate.  His 
slippered  feet  spread  wider  than  before. 

"  I  'm  not  much  good  at  pulling,"  he  com 
mented. 

Roberts  sat  a  moment  in  silence. 

"  I  repeat,  if  I  can  be  of  any  assistance  - 
he  commented.     "  No  butting  in,   you  under 
stand." 

"  Yes,  I  understand,  and  thank  you  sincerely. 
I  doubt  if  you  can  help  any  though  —  if  any  one 
can.  It 's  the  old  complaint  mostly." 

"  Publishers  who  fail  to  appreciate,  I  gather." 

"  Partly." 

"  And  what  more,  may  I  ask?  " 

Armstrong  stretched  back  listlessly,  his  eyes 
half  closed. 

"  Everything,  it  seems,  to  me  to-night,  every 
cursed  thing! "  Restless  in  spite  of  his  seeming 
inertia  he  straightened  nervously.  His  fingers, 
slender  almost  as  those  of  a  woman,  opened  and 
closed  intermittently.  "  First  of  all,  the  manu 
script  of  my  new  book  came  back  this  morning, 
the  one  I  Ve  been  working  on  for  the  last  year. 
The  expressman  delivered  it  just  after  you  left. 
That  started  the  day  wrong.  Then  came  a  suc- 

[91] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

cession  of  little  things.  Breakfast,  with  coffee 
stone-cold,  and  soggy  rolls ;  I  could  n't  swallow 
a  mouthful.  Afterward  I  cut  myself  shaving, 
and  I  was  late  for  lecture,  and  there  was  no  styp 
tic  in  the  house,  and  I  got  down  to  my  class  with  a 
collar  looking  as  though  I  'd  had  my  throat  cut. 
The  lecture  room  was  chilly,  beastly  chilly,  and 
about  half  the  men  had  colds.  Every  twentieth 
word  I  'd  say  some  one  would  sneeze  and  inter 
rupt.  On  top  of  this  one  chap  on  the  front  row 
had  neglected  to  complete  his  toilet  and  sat  there 
for  half  an  hour  manicuring  his  nails,  every 
blessed  one  of  the  ten;  I  counted  them,  while  I 
was  trying  to  explain  proximal  principles.  At 
noon  we  had  some  more  of  that  abominable  soup 
with  carrots  in  it.  Carrots!  I  detest  the  name 
and  the  whole  family ;  and  we  Ve  had  them  every 
day  now  for  a  week.  After  lunch  another  big 
thing.  I  'd  applied  for  position  as  lecturer  in  the 
summer  school,  applied  early.  The  president 
met  me  to-day  and  remarked  casually,  very  casu 
ally,  that  the  man  for  the  place  had  already  been 
selected.  He  was  very  sorry  of  course,  but  — 
Back  at  the  department  I  found  that  Elrod,  one 
of  my  assistants,  was  sick,  and  of  necessity  I  had 
to  take  his  place  in  the  laboratory.  Inside  half 
an  hour  some  bumpkin  dropped  an  eight-ounce 

[92] 


Certainty 

bottle  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen.  It  spattered 
everywhere  —  and  the  smell !  I  feel  like  holding 
my  nose  yet.  Later  the  water  got  stopped  up, 
and  for  love  or  money  no  plumber-  The 
speaker  paused,  his  shoulders  lifted  eloquently. 
"  But  what 's  the  use  of  itemizing.  It 's  been  the 
same  all  day  long,  one  petty  rasp  after  another. 
To  cap  the  climax  Elice  is  out  of  town.  She  's 
got  an  English  class  in  a  high-school  in  a  dinky 
little  burg  out  about  twenty  miles  and  goes  out 
there  every  Thursday.  I  forgot  this  was  the  day 
until  I  pulled  the  knocker.  That 's  all,  I  guess, 
except  that  I  'm  here." 

Roberts  smiled,  the  deliberate  smile  of  tolerant 
understanding. 

"  One  of  those  days,  was  n't  it,"  he  commented 
sympathetically. 

'  Yes,"  shortly,  "  and  it  seems  lately  as  though 
that  was  the  only  kind  I  had  —  seems  as  though 
it  was  not  one  but  an  endless  succession.  ...  It 's 
all  so  petty,  so  confoundedly  petty  and  irritating, 
and  the  outlook  for  the  future  seems  so  similar." 
Of  a  sudden  the  speaker  arose,  selected  a  bit  of 
rice  paper  from  the  mantel,  and  began  rolling  a 
cigarette  swiftly.  The  labor  complete  he  paused, 
the  little  white  cylinder  between  his  fingers.  A 
moment  he  stood  so,  irresolute  or  intentionally 

[93] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

deliberate;  without  apology  or  comment  he 
poured  a  second  glass  of  liquor  even  full  from  the 
red  decanter  and  drank  it  in  silence.  "  On  the 
square,  Darley,"  he  blazed,  "  I  expected  a  lot 
from  that  last  book,  banked  on  it ;  and  it 's  gone 
flat,  like  the  others."  He  resumed  his  seat  and 
the  cigarette  flamed.  "  I  worked  hard  on  it, 
did  my  level  best.  I  don't  believe  I  can  ever 
do  any  better  —  and  now  it 's  failed  miserably. 
It  knocks  my  pins  clean  out  from  under 
me." 

For  a  time  the  room  was  quiet.  Roberts  did 
not  smile  this  time,  or  offer  sympathy.  The 
occasion  for  that  had  gone  by.  He  merely 
waited  in  the  fulness  of  knowledge,  until  the 
first  hot  flood  of  resentment  had  cooled,  until  the 
inevitable  reaction  that  followed  was  on.  Delib 
erate,  direct  to  the  point,  he  struck. 

'  You  're  satisfied  I  'm  your  friend,  are  you?  " 
he  asked  abruptly. 

The  other  looked  his  surprise. 

;'  Emphatically,  yes.  One  of  the  few  I  have 
-  it  seems  to-night." 

"  And  I  could  n't  possibly  have  any  selfish 
motive  in  —  in  tearing  you  loose  from  your  moor 
ings?  " 

"  None  whatever  that  I  can  imagine.    Why?  " 

[94] 


Certainty 

'  You  won't  take  offence  either  if  I  advise 
plainly? " 

"  No,  I  'm  not  a  fool  —  yet.  What  is  it,  Dar- 
ley,  —  your  advice?  " 

Again  Roberts  paused,  deliberately  now,  un 
emotionally. 

"  My  advice  then  is  to  chuck  it,  for  to-day  and 
to-morrow  and  all  time:  the  University,  this 
whole  artistic  rainbow,  chuck  it  as  though  it  were 
hot,  red  hot,  and  get  down  to  earth.  Is  that  bru 
tally  plain  enough? " 

Unconsciously  Armstrong  had  sat  up,  expect 
ant.  A  moment  he  remained  so,  taking  in  the 
thought,  all  its  implications,  its  suddenly  sug 
gested  possibilities ;  as  the  full  revolutionary  sig 
nificance  of  the  idea  came  home  of  a  sudden  he 
dropped  back  in  his  place.  With  an  effort  he 
smiled. 

'*  To  answer  your  question:  yes,  I  think  that 
is  brutally  frank  enough,"  he  said.  A  moment 
longer  he  remained  quiet,  thinking,  the  idea  ex 
panding.  "  Chuck  it,"  he  repeated  half  to  him 
self.  "  It  sounds  sensible  certainly,  to-night 
particularly."  New  thoughts  came,  thoughts  like 
the  sifting  of  dead  ashes.  "Chuck  it,"  feverishly, 
"  and  admit  incompetency,  cowardice,  failure  ab 
solute!  "  For  the  third  time  he  was  on  his  feet. 

[95] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  No,  never.  I  '11  go  to  the  devil  first."  His 
fingers  were  on  the  red  decanter,  his  brown  eyes 
aflame.  "I '11- 

"  Armstrong! " 

No  answer,  although  the  fingers  halted. 

"Steve!" 

Still  no  answer;  but  bit  by  bit  the  hand 
retreated. 

"  Steve,"  repeated,  "sit  down,  please;  please, 
I  say.  Let 's  talk  this  matter  over  a  little  ration 
ally.  People  have  changed  their  minds  before, 
some  few  billions  of  them  —  and  made  good 
afterward  too.  Have  a  little  patience,  man,  and 
sit  down.  I  have  a  proposition  to  make  to  you." 

Reluctantly  Armstrong  obeyed.  His  face  was 
still  unnaturally  pale  and  he  was  breathing  hard, 
but  he  obeyed.  Back  in  his  seat  he  waited  a  sec 
ond,  uncertain;  with  an  effort  he  faced  his  com 
panion  fairly. 

'  I  -  -  realize  I  'm  an  ass,  Darley,"  he  began, 
hesitantly,  "  and  that  this  sort  of  thing  is  melo 
dramatically  cheap."  The  white  had  left  his  face 
now  and  words  were  coming  more  easily.  "  I 
won't  attempt  to  apologize,  I  just  simply  admit 
the  truth.  I  've  lost  my  grip  this  evening." 

"  Forget  it."  The  voice  was  commonplace. 
"  Just  forget  it." 

[96] 


Certainty 

"  I  can't;  I  'm  not  built  that  way;  but  I  wish 
you  would.  If  there  's  one  thing  I  hate  more 
than  another  it 's  cheap  heroics." 

"  I  know  it  —  and  understand.  Let  it  go  at 
that." 

"  Thank  you.  All  right."  It  was  matter  of 
fact,  but  such  with  an  effort.  "  Let 's  hear  your 
proposition." 

As  usual  Roberts  wasted  no  preface. 

:'  The  suggestion  is  merely  in  line  with  what  I 
said  before.  In  so  many  words,  it 's  to  throw  up 
this  place  of  yours  in  the  University  and  get  into 
business.  You  '11  come  into  contact  with  realities 
that  way  and  realities  are  eternally  opposed  to 
—  cobwebs.  You  '11  be  happier  and  more  con 
tented,  I  'm  positive,  once  you  get  adjusted." 
He  gave  his  listener  a  keen  look.  "  I  Ve  got  an 
opening  in  mind  right  now.  Say  the  word  and 
I  '11  have  the  place  ready  for  you  the  day  they 
appoint  your  successor  in  the  University.  Do 
you  care  to  consider  it?  " 

"  Consider,  yes,  certainly."  Armstrong  had 
lit  a  pipe  and  puffed  at  it  shortly.  "  It 's  white 
of  you  too  to  offer  it.  I  know  it 's  a  good  thing 
or  you  would  n't  make  the  suggestion." 

"  It 's  not  as  good  as  Graham's  offer,"  refuted 
the  other  evenly,  "  places  like  that  don't  dangle 
7  [  97  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

loose  every  day;  but  it  will  pay  you  better  than 
a  university  chair,  and  it  offers  possibilities  — 
you  anticipate  probably, — it 's  in  connection  with 
the  new  electric  line.  Between  ourselves,  Arm 
strong,  this  system  is  going  to  be  a  big  thing 
when  it 's  complete.  This  is  a  straight  tip.  I 
happen  to  be  in  a  position  to  know.  I  also  hap 
pen  to  be  in  position  to  put  you  very  near  the 
basement,  providing  you  wish  to  come  in  with 
us  unhampered."  The  voice  halted  meaningly. 
'  That 's  all  I  'm  at  liberty  to  say  now,  until  you 
are  really  in  and  prove  unmistakably  —  I  '11  have 
several  things  more  to  tell  you  then." 

"  Don't  misunderstand  me,  Darley,"  he  said 
slowly,  "or  take  offence,  please;  but  —  but,  to 
scrape  off  the  veneer,  you  don't  trust  me  very  far 
even  yet,  do  you?  " 

There  was  a  moment  of  silence,  time  for  sec 
ond  thought. 

'  I  can't  misunderstand  what  you  mean,"  said 
Roberts;  "  but  unfortunately  there  are  others  be 
sides  yourself  for  me  to  consider."  The  voice 
was  patient,  unnaturally  so.  "  I  Ve  already 
talked  more  than  I  should." 

"  If  I  accepted,"  unobservant,  Armstrong's 
mind  was  running  on  in  its  own  channel,  "  the 
place  you  mean  would  take  my  entire  time.  In 

[  98  ] 


Certainty 

a  way  it  would  be  like  Graham's  offer.    I  'd  be 
compelled  —  you  catch  the  idea,  don't  you?" 

'  Yes."    This  time  the  other  did  not  amplify. 

'  You  know  why  I  refused  that  proposition 
before.  We  beat  the  brush  pretty  thoroughly 
at  that  time."  It  was  declination  involved,  but 
declination  nevertheless  unmistakable.  "  It 's  a 
rocky  road  I  'm  on,  and  with  occasional  mud- 
holes  such  as  —  well  —  such  as  I  fell  into  to 
night;  but  somehow  I  can't  leave  it.  I  won't 
try  to  defend  it  this  time.  I  'm  not  in  the  mood. 
But  when  it  comes  to  breaking  free,  taking  a  new 
trail  —  I  simply  can't  do  it,  can't!" 

"  Very  well."  The  voice  was  non-committal. 
Waiting,  Armstrong  thought  there  would  be 
more  to  follow,  a  comment  at  least ;  but  there  was 
none.  Roberts  merely  leaned  back  more  com 
fortably  in  his  place,  remained  so  for  a  minute 
while  like  smoke  the  former  subject  faded  from 
the  horizon.  Armstrong  grew  conscious  that  he 
was  being  observed  intently. 

"  By  the  way,"  introduced  Roberts,  abruptly, 
"  I  Ve  decided  to  give  up  my  residence  here 
in  the  suburbs.  They  're  remodelling  the  office 
building  I  'm  in,  you  know:  adding  another 
floor,  an  elevator,  and  one  thing  and  another. 
I  Ve  rented  a  suite  in  the  addition,  to  be  fitted 

[99] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

out  after  some  ideas  of  my  own.  They  '11  begin 
on  it  inside  a  week." 

For  a  moment  Armstrong  said  nothing. 

'  I  'm  not  particularly  surprised,"  he  com 
mented  at  last,  "  that  is,  not  surprised  that  you  're 
going  to  quit  me.  It  was  merely  a  question  of 
time  until  this  place  we  're  living  in  here  got  too 
small  for  you.  When  will  you  go?  " 

'  The  lease  gives  them  a  month  to  deliver." 

"  A  month.  All  right."  There  was  frost 
forming  in  the  tone.  :'  I  '11  try  and  lassoo  an 
other  mate  in  that  time.  The  place  is  n't  particu 
larly  pretentious,  but,  nevertheless,  I  can't  afford 
to  inhabit  it  alone."  He  smiled,  but  it  was  not 
his  customary  companionable  smile.  '  You  're 
on  the  incline  and  trudging  up  steadily,  are  n't 
you,  old  man? " 

For  an  instant  Roberts  returned  the  look  with 
the  analytic  one  Armstrong  knew  so  well. 

'  I  trust  so,"  he  returned.  A  pause,  again 
sufficient  for  second  thought.  "  Looking  into  the 
immediate  future  I  see  a  lot  of  grinding  to  be 
done,  and  I  need  machinery  to  do  it  with.  This 
down  town  move  is  merely  part  of  the  campaign." 

"  I  see,"  Armstrong  ignored  the  explanation, 
even  perverted  it  intentionally.  "  And  the  next 
installation  of  machinery  will  be  in  stone  out  on 

[  100] 


Certainty 

Nob   Hill  among  the  other   imitation   colonial 
factories.    When  's  that  to  be,  if  I  may  ask?  " 

Roberts  said  nothing. 

"  When  's  it  to  be,  Darley? "  repeated  Arm 
strong.  "  You  have  it  in  mind,  have  n't  you?  " 

This  time  Roberts  turned,  his  eyes  unsmiling, 
his  lips  tight. 

"  When  have  I  offended  you,  and  how,  Arm 
strong?  "  he  countered  directly.  '  Tell  me  that." 

"Offended!"  Roused  out  of  his  ill  humor 
Armstrong  flushed  penitently.  '  You  've  never 
offended,  never.  On  the  contrary,  you  're  only 
too  patient  with  my  tantrums."  He  jerked  him 
self  together  impulsively.  :'  I  did  n't  mean  any 
thing  by  that  at  all.  I  'm  blooming  glad  to  see 
you  prosper.  I  always  knew  you  would." 

"  The    imitation    colonial  —  factory    then  - 
Roberts  recalled  slowly. 

"  Just  a  dream,  a  fancy,  an  air  castle." 

"  No,  a  reality--  I  hope." 

"What?  —  a  miracle!  But  how  about  the 
tape  line? " 

"  I  repeat :  I  hope.  Hope  always  refers  to  the 
future  —  the  indefinite  future." 

Armstrong  smiled  broadly,  shrugged.  Banter 
tingled  on  the  tip  of  his  tongue,  but  for  some 
reason  remained  unspoken.  Abruptly  as  it  had 

[101] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

arisen  the  subject  vanished  beneath  the  surface. 
Merely  the  memory  of  that  suggestion  of  things 
to  come  remained. 

In  the  silence  Roberts  glanced  at  the  clock  and 
arose  preparatory  to  bed.  Watching  the  familiar 
action,  a  new  thought  sprang  full-fledged  to 
Armstrong's  brain,  a  sudden  appreciation  of  the 
unconscious  dependence  he  had  grown  to  feel  on 
the  other  man.  The  thought  took  words. 

"  On  the  square,  old  man,"  he  said  soberly,  "  I 
hate  to  have  you  go.  It  '11  be  beastly  lonely  here 
without  you  to  sit  down  on  me  and  make  me  feel 
foolish."  He  gestured  in  mute  eloquence.  "  It 
means  the  end  between  you  and  me  the  moment 
you  pack  your  trunk.  We  may  both  put  up  a 
bluff --but  just  the  same  it 's  the  end." 

Roberts  halted  thoughtfully  where  he  stood. 

'The  end?  I  wonder  —  and  who  will  be  to 
blame?" 

"  Neither  of  us,"  swiftly.  "  It  was  inevitable. 
We  '11  simply  drift  apart.  You  recall  I  prophe 
sied  once  before  - 

"  Yes,  I  recall." 

Armstrong  started  involuntarily.  Another 
memory  had  intruded. 

'  You  remember  —  something  else  I  pre 
dicted,  do  you? " 

[  102] 


Certainty 

A  slow  smile  formed  on  Roberts'  lips. 

"  You  said  that  sometime  we  'd  hate  each  other, 
in  the  same  measure  that  we  were  friends  now." 

"  Yes ;  and  it 's  so.  I  feel  it ;  why  I  don't 
know,  can't  imagine  —  yet.  But  it  will  come 
about  as  surely  as  to-morrow  will  come."  He 
looked  at  his  companion  steadily,  unsmilingly 
prophetic.  "  Good-bye,  friend  Darley  Roberts. 
You  're  going  —  and  you  won't  return.  Good- 
bye." 

An  instant  Roberts  stood  as  he  was,  motion 
less  ;  then  he  turned  swiftly. 

"  You  're  morbid  to-night,  Armstrong,"  he 
returned  slowly.  "In  the  morning  the  sun  will 
shine  and  the  world  will  look  very  different.  As 
for  my  leaving  —  you  '11  find  another  man  who  '11 
make  a  lot  better  mate  than  I  am.  I  'm  not  a 
good  fellow  in  the  least." 

"  I  know  it,"  bluntly.  "  That 's  why  you  're 
good  for  me."  Unconsciously  his  glance  trav 
elled  to  the  mantel,  and  shifted  hurriedly.  "  I  'm 
a  kind  of  clinging  vine,  I  guess.  To  change  the 
figure  of  speech,  I  need  a  stiff  rudder  to  keep  me 
headed  straight  to  windward.  I  '11  —  miss  you," 
simply. 

Roberts  hesitated  a  moment,  choosing  his  words 
carefully. 

[  103] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

:'  We  can't  very  well  always  be  together, 
though,"  he  suggested  at  last  slowly. 

"  No,  we  can't.  I  realize  it.  It 's  -  Pardon 
an  ass  and  go  to  bed,  old  man." 

For  perhaps  half  a  minute  Roberts  stood  there, 
the  fire  from  the  open  grate  lighting  his  face,  his 
big  capable  hands  loose  at  his  sides.  He  made  no 
motion  to  leave,  nor  for  a  space  to  speak ;  charac 
teristically  abrupt,  he  turned,  facing  his  com 
panion  directly. 

"  Armstrong,"  he  said,  "  I  can't  work  up  to 
things  delicately  and  have  them  seemingly  hap 
pen  by  chance.  Nature  did  n't  endow  me  with 
that  ability.  I  have  to  come  out  with  a  broadside 
shot  or  not  at  all.  I  'm  going  to  do  so  now.  Why 
don't  you  get  married?  Miss  Gleason  will  be  a 
better  rudder  immeasurably  than  I  am." 

Involuntarily  Armstrong  flushed,  slowly  the 
color  faded.  He  said  nothing. 

:<  I  know  I  'm  intruding  and  offending,"  went 
on  the  other;  "  you  show  that,  but  you  said  a  bit 
ago  I  was  your  friend  and  the  thing  is  on  my 
mind.  Believe  this  at  least:  I  was  never  more 
your  friend  than  when  I  advise  the  move  now. 
I  repeat:  why  don't  you  get  married,  at 
once? " 

'  Why?     You  know  why,  Darley.     It 's  the 

[104] 


Certainty 

old   reason  —  the   butcher,    the   baker,   and   the 
candlestick  maker.     They  still  hold  the  fort." 

"  No,  not  for  you  —  unless  you  let  them.  For 
give  another  broadside.  If  you  get  pinched  tem 
porarily  let  a  friend  be  of  service.  I  'm  not  afraid 
to  trust  you.  Anyway  I  chance  it.  We  all  have 
to  chance  something  for  happiness.  Don't  delay 
any  longer,  man,  don't!  " 

"Don't?"  Of  a  sudden  Armstrong  glanced 
up  and  met  the  other's  look  steadily.  "  Don't?  " 
he  repeated.  '  Why  do  you  say  that,  please? " 

A  second  Roberts  met  the  lifted  questioning 
eyes. 

"  Because  I  meant  it,"  he  said.  "  Please  don't 
ask  me  to  say  more." 

"  But  I  do  ask  it,"  pressed  Armstrong,  stub 
bornly.  '  You  meant  something  particular  by 
that,  something  I  have  the  right  to  know." 

'  Won't  you  consider  what  I  suggested," 
asked  Roberts  in  a  low  tone;  "merely  con 
sider  it?" 

"  Perhaps  after  you  tell  me  what  you  meant. 
Why  '  don't,'  please?  " 

On  the  cosy  room  fell  silence,  —  the  silence 
of  midnight;  the  longest  silence  of  that  inter 
rupted  understanding.  For  a  long  while  Roberts 
stood  precisely  as  he  was;  he  started  walking, 

[  105  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

measuring  the  breadth  of  the  room  and  back 
again;  something  the  watcher  had  never  known 
him  to  do  before,  never  in  the  years  of  acquaint 
ance,  no  matter  what  the  uncertainty  or  diffi 
culty  confronting.  A  second  time  he  followed 
the  trail  back  and  forth,  until,  watching  him,  the 
spectator  felt  at  last  something  like  terror  of 
the  thing  he  had  deliberately  conjured  and  that 
now  was  inevitably  coming  very  near;  for  at 
last  Roberts  had  halted,  was  standing  over  him. 
"  In  all  the  time  that  I  've  known  you,  Arm 
strong,"  said  a  voice,  a  new  voice,  "  you  Ve  asked 
my  advice  repeatedly,  asked  the  reason  for  it, 
insisted  that  I  explain  minutely,  and  disregarded 
it  absolutely.  I  've  tried  to  be  honest  with  you 
each  time,  tried  to  be  of  service ;  and  still  you  Ve 
disregarded.  It 's  been  the  same  to-night,  the 
old,  old  story.  I  Ve  been  dead  in  earnest,  tried 
to  be  unselfish,  and  still  you  question  and  doubt 
and  insist."  A  second  the  voice  halted,  the 
speaker  glancing  down,  not  analytically  or 
whimsically,  as  usual,  but  of  a  sudden  icy  cold. 
'  You  insist  now,  against  my  request,  and  once 
more  I  'm  going  to  humor  you.  You  wish  to 
know  what  I  meant  by  '  don't '  delay.  I  meant 
just  this,  man,  just  this  and  no  more:  Chances 
for  happiness  come  to  us  all  sometime  in  our 

[  1061 


Certainty 

lives.  They  knock  at  our  door  and  wait  for  us 
to  open.  Sometimes,  not  often,  they  knock 
twice;  but  they  don't  keep  on  knocking  forever. 
There  are  a  multitude  of  other  doors  in  the 
world  and,  after  a  while,  opportunity,  our  op 
portunity,  goes  by,  and  never  returns;  no  mat 
ter  how  loudly  we  call.  Is  that  clear  enough, 
man?" 

"  In  the  abstract,  yes."  Armstrong's  lips 
were  dry  and  he  moistened  them  unconsciously. 
"  In  the  concrete,  though,  as  it  applies  to  my 
—  happiness  - 

"God,  you're  an  egotist,  Armstrong!  Is  it 
possible  you  can't  understand,  or  won't?" 

Slowly,  with  an  effort,  Armstrong  arose;  his 
face  of  a  sudden  gray,  his  hands  fastened  to  the 
back  of  his  chair. 

'  You  mean  to  suggest  that  Elice,"  he  began, 
"  that  Elice  —  You  dare  to  suggest  that  to 
me?" 

"Dare?" 

They  looked  at  each  other,  not  three  feet 
apart. 

"Dare?"  Roberts  repeated. 

"Darley!" 

"Don't!  I've  argued,  advised,  used  persua 
sion —  everything.  Take  that  as  a  warning  if 

[  107  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

you  wish,  or  disregard  it  if  you  choose.  I  'm 
done." 

On  the  chair  back  the  fingers  locked  tighter 
and  tighter,  until  they  grew  white.  Tardy 
comprehension  was  coming  at  last. 

'  You  mean  to  warn  me,"  Armstrong  scarcely 
recognized  his  own  voice,  "  that  you  yourself  - 

'  Yes,  I  myself.    That 's  why  I  warned  you." 

'  You  yourself,"  he  repeated,  "  whom  I  intro 
duced  and  took  with  me  as  my  friend,  my  best 
friend  —  you  —  Judas !  " 

"  Re-introduced."  Roberts'  eyes  were  as 
steady  as  his  voice.  "  Re-introduced  —  mark 
that.  Miss  Gleason  has  forgotten,  but  she  was 
the  first  girl  I  met  in  the  University,  when  I 
had  one  suit  of  frayed  clothes  to  my  name,  and 
my  stock  was  below  par.  Miss  Gleason  has 
forgotten,  I  say,  had  no  reason  to  remember; 
but  I  -  Nor  -  Judas ;  drop  that  for  all 
time.  .  .  .  I  Ve  warned  you,  you  understand." 

"Barley!" 

"  No  —  Roberts.  I  'm  no  hypocrite.  You  Ve 
precipitated  this  understanding,  compelled  it; 
but  perhaps  it 's  as  well.  I  '11  move  out  of  here 
to-morrow  instead  of  in  a  month,  if  you  wish. 
Do  you  wish  it? " 

Bit  by  bit  the  hands  on  the  chair  back,  that 
I  108] 


Certainty 

had  been  so  tense,  loosened,  and  Armstrong 
sank  back  in  his  seat,  his  face  turned  away. 

"  I  don't  know  —  yet."  His  fingers  were 
twitching  aimlessly.  "  I  want  to  think.  .  .  . 
You,  of  all  men,  you!"  He  turned,  his  eyes 
ablaze,  his  voice  thick.  '  Yes,  go  to-morrow, 
damn  you!  and  as  for  your  warning,  do  as  you 
please,  get  between  us  if  you  can."  He  laughed 
raspingly.  "  I  '11  delay  —  dangle,  you  catch  that 
-  as  long  as  I  see  fit.  I  dare  you." 

An  instant  Roberts  stood  as  he  was;  slowly 
and  without  a  word  he  started  for  his  room. 
As  he  did  so  Armstrong  arose  swiftly  and,  all 
but  gropingly,  his  hand  sought  the  red  decanter 
on  the  mantel.  ;'  I  dare  you,"  he  repeated 
blindly,  "dare  you!" 

"Armstrong!"  Roberts  had  halted,  looking 
back.  "  Not  for  any  one's  sake  but  your  own 
—  think  a  second,  man." 

"To  hell  with  you  and  thought!" 

Without  a  sound  this  time  or  another  glance 
the  door  to  Roberts'  room  opened  and  closed 
and  Armstrong  was  alone. 


[  109  ] 


CHAPTER   VI 

A    WARNING 

WITH  a  dexterity  born  of  experience 
Harry  Randall  looked  up  from  his 
labor  of  separating  the  zone  of  carbon  from  the 
smaller  segment  of  chop  that  had  escaped  the 
ravages  of  a  superheated  frying-pan  and  smiled 
across  the  table  at  his  wife. 

"  On  the  contrary,"  he  said,  refuting  a  pes 
simistic  observation  previously  made  by  the  per 
son  addressed,  "  I  think  you  're  doing  fine.  I 
can  see  a  distinct  improvement  every  month. 
On  the  whole  you  're  really  becoming  an  admi 
rable  cook." 

"Undoubtedly!"  The  voice  dripped  with 
irony.  '  That  very  chop,  for  instance  — 

"  Is  merely  a  case  in  point,"  amiably.    "  Some 

people,  unscientific  people,  might  contend  that 

it  was  overdone ;    but  the  initiated  —  that 's  us 

-  know   better.      Meat,    particularly   from   the 

genus  hog,  should  always  be  well  cooked.     It 

[110] 


A  Warning 

obviates  the  possibility  of  trichina  infection 
absolutely." 

"  And  those  biscuits,"  equivocally.  "  I  '11 
wager  they  'd  sink  like  steel  billets." 

Her  husband  inspected  the  articles  designated 
with  a  judicial  eye. 

"  Better  so.  We  're  thus  saved  the  tempta 
tion  of  eating  them.  All  statistics  prove  that 
hot  biscuits  and  dyspepsia - 

'  The  salad,  then,"  wearily. 

"  Hygienic  beyond  a  doubt.  The  superabun 
dance  of  seasoning  to  which  you  doubtless  refer 
may  be  unusual ;  nevertheless,  it 's  a  leaning  in 
the  right  direction.  Condiments  of  all  kinds 
tend  to  stimulate  the  flow  of  the  gastric  juice; 
and  that,  you  know,  from  your  physiology,  is 
what  does  the  digestive  business." 

Margery  Randall  laughed,  against  her  will. 

"  And  last  of  all  the  coffee,"  she  suggested. 

"  Frankly,  as  coffee,  it  is  a  little  peculiar;  but 
considered  as  hot  water  merely,  it  leaves  noth 
ing  to  be  desired;  and  science  teaches  again 
that,  like  condiments,  hot  water  — 

The  two  laughed  together;  temporarily  the 
atmosphere  cleared. 

"  Seriously,  Harry,"  asked  the  girl,  "  do  you 
really  think  I  '11  ever  get  so  I  can  cook  things 

[  in] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

that  aren't  an  insult?"  She  swept  the  indi 
gestible  repast  between  them  with  a  hopeless 
look.  "  I  'm  trying  my  best,  but  at  times  like 
this  I  get  discouraged." 

"  Certainly  you  will,"  with  conviction.  "  Now 
this  bread,  for  instance,"  he  held  up  a  slice 
to  illustrate,  "is  as  good  as  any  one  can 
make." 

"  And  unfortunately  was  one  of  the  few 
things  that  I  did  n't  make.  It 's  bakery  bread, 
of  course,  silly." 

Randall  dropped  the  offending  staff  of  life 
as  though  it  were  hot. 

'  These  cookies,  then."  He  munched  one  with 
the  pleasure  of  an  epicure.  '  They  're  good 
thoroughly." 

'  Elice  Gleason  baked  them  for  me  to-day," 
icily.  "  She  was  here  all  the  afternoon." 

An  instant  of  silence  followed;  glancing  half 
sheepishly  across  the  board  Randall  saw  some 
thing  that  made  him  arise  from  his  seat 
abruptly. 

"  Margery,  little  girl,"  his  arms  were  around 
her.  "  Don't  take  it  so  seriously.  It 's  all  a 
joke,  honest."  With  practised  skill  he  kissed 
away  the  two  big  tears  that  were  rapidly  gather 
ing.  "Of  course  you'll  learn;  every  one  has 

[  112  ] 


A  Warning 

to  have  practice ;  and  it 's  something  you  never 
did  before,  something  entirely  new." 

"  That 's  just  the  point,"  repeated  the  girl. 
The  suddenly  aroused  tears  had  ceased  to  flow, 
but  she  still  looked  the  image  of  despondency. 
"  It 's  something  I  Ve  never  had  to  do,  and  I  '11 
never  learn.  I  Ve  been  trying  for  practically 
a  year  now  and  things  get  worse  and  worse." 

"Not  worse,"  hopefully;  "you  merely  think 
so.  You  're  just  a  bit  discouraged  and  tired 
to-night  —  that 's  all." 

"  I  know  it  and,  besides,  I  can't  help  it."  She 
was  winking  hard  again  against  two  fresh  tears. 
"  I  spoiled  two  cakes  this  afternoon.  Elice  tried 
to  show  me  how  to  make  them;  and  I  burned 
my  finger  "  -  she  held  up  a  swaddled  member 
for  inspection  -  "  horribly.  I  just  can't  do  this 
housework,  Harry,  just  simply  can't." 

"  Yes,  you  can."  Once  more  the  two  teary 
recruits  vanished  by  the  former  method.  '  You 
can  do  anything." 

The  girl  shook  her  head  with  a  determination 
premeditated. 

"  No;  I  repeat  that  I  Ve  tried,  and  it 's  been 
a  miserable  failure.  I  -  -  think  we  '11  have  to 
have  the  maid  back  again,  for  good." 

"The  maid!"     Randall  laughed,  but  not  so 

8  [  113  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

spontaneously  as  was  normal.  '  We  don't  want 
a  maid  bothering  around,  Margery.  We  want 
to  be  alone."  He  had  a  brilliant  thought,  speed 
ily  reduced  to  action.  "  How  could  I  treat  in 
jured  fingers  like  this  properly  if  there  was  a 
maid  about? " 

'  There  wrould  n't  be  any  burned  fingers 
then,"  refuted  the  girl.  Intentionally  avoiding 
the  other's  look,  she  arose  from  the  neglected 
dinner-table  decisively  and,  the  man  following 
slowly,  led  the  way  to  the  living-room.  "  Joking 
aside,"  she  continued  as  she  dropped  into  a  con 
venient  seat,  "  I  mean  it,  seriously.  I  Ve  felt 
this  way  for  a  long  time,  and  to-day  has  been 
the  climax.  I  simply  won't  spend  my  life  cook 
ing  and  dusting  and  —  and  washing  dishes. 
Life  's  too  short." 

From  out  the  depths  of  the  big  davenport 
Harry  Randall  inspected  steadily  the  rebellious 
little  woman  opposite.  He  did  not  answer  at 
once,  it  was  not  his  way;  but  he  was  thinking 
seriously.  To  say  that  the  present  moment  was 
a  surprise  would  be  false.  For  long,  straws  had 
indicated  the  trend  of  the  wind,  and  he  was  not 
blind.  There  wras  an  excuse  for  the  attitude, 
too.  He  was  just  enough  to  realize  that.  As 
she  had  said,  she  was  born  differently,  bred 

[  114  ] 


A  Warning 

differently,  educated  to  a  life  of  ease.  And  he, 
Harry  Randall,  had  known  it  from  the  first, 
knew  it  when  he  married  her.  Just  now,  to  be 
sure,  he  was  financially  flat,  several  months  ahead 
of  his  meagre  salary;  but  that  did  not  alter 
the  original  premise,  the  original  obligation.  He 
remembered  this  now  as  he  looked  at  her,  re 
membered  and  decided  —  the  only  way  it  seemed 
to  him  possible  an  honorable  man  could  decide. 

'  Very  well,  Margery,"  he  said  gravely,  "  you 
may  have  the  maid  back,  of  course,  if  you  wish 
it.  I  had  hoped  we  might  get  along  for  a  time, 
while  we  were  paying  for  the  things  in  the 
house,  anyway;  but"  he  looked  away-  "I 
guess  we  '11  manage  it  somehow." 

"  Somehow!"  Margery  glanced  at  him  with 
only  partial  comprehension.  "Is  it  really  as 
bad  as  that,  as  hopeless?" 

Randall  smiled  the  slow  smile  that  made  his 
smooth  face  seem  fairly  boyish. 

"  I  don't  know  exactly  what  you  mean  by 
bad,  or  hopeless ;  but  it 's  a  fact  that  so  far 
we  Ve  been  spending  a  good  deal  more  than 
my  income." 

"  I  'm  sorry,  dear,  really."  It  was  the  con 
trition  of  one  absolutely  unaccustomed  to  con 
sideration  of  ways  and  means,  uncomprehending. 

[  us  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  Particularly  so  just  now  with  winter  coming 
on  and  —  and  girls,  you  know,  have  to  get  such 
a  lot  of  things  for  winter." 

This  time  Randall  did  not  smile;  neither  did 
he  show  irritation. 

'  What,  for  instance? "  he  inquired  directly. 

"  Oh,  a  tailored  suit  for  one  thing,  and  a 
winter  hat,  and  high  shoes,  and  —  and  a  lot  of 
things." 

"  Do  you  really  need  them,  Margery? "  It 
was  prosaic  pathos,  but  pathos  nevertheless. 
'  There  's  coal  to  be  bought,  you  know,  and  my 
life  insurance  comes  due  next  month.  I  don't 
want  to  seem  to  be  stingy,  you  know  that; 
but  —  '  he  halted  miserably. 

"Need  them!"  It  was  mild  vexation.  "Of 
course  I  need  them,  silly.  A  girl  can't  go 
around  when  the  thermometer  's  below  zero  with 
net  shirtwaists  and  open-work  stockings." 

"Of  course,"  quickly.  With  an  effort  the 
smile  returned.  "  Order  wrhat  you  need.  I  '11 
take  care  of  that  too  "  -  he  was  going  to  re 
peat  "  somehow,"  then  caught  himself  -  "  as 
soon  as  I  can,"  he  substituted. 

The  girl  looked  at  him  smilingly. 

"  Poor  old  Harry,  henpecked  Harry,"  she 
bantered  gayly.  Crossing  over,  her  arms  went 

f  116  1 


A  Warning 

around  his  neck.  "  Have  an  awful  lot  of 
troubles,  don't  you,  professor  man!  " 

The  argument  was  irresistible  and  Randall 
capitulated. 

"  No,  none  whatever,"  he  answered,  as  he  was 
expected  to  answer;  and  once  more  sweet  peace 
rested  on  the  house  of  Randall. 

Back  in  her  place  opposite  once  more  Mar 
gery  looked  at  her  husband  seriously,  a  pucker 
of  perplexity  on  her  smooth  face. 

"  By  the  way,"  she  digressed,  "  I  Ve  been 
wondering  for  some  time  now  if  anything 's 
wrong  with  Elice  and  Steve.  Has  he  hinted 
anything  to  you?  " 

"No;    why?" 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know  anything  definite;  but  he  's 
been  here  three  evenings  the  last  week,  you 
know,  Sunday  evening  for  one  at  that,  and  it 
looks  queer." 

"  I  Ve  noticed  it  too,"  admitted  Randall,  "  and 
he  's  coming  again  this  evening.  He  asked  per 
mission  and  I  could  n't  well  refuse.  Not  that 
I  don't  like  to  have  him  come,"  quickly,  "  but 
it  interferes  with  my  lectures  next  morning." 

"  And  with  our  own  evenings.  I  -  -  just  wish 
he  would  n't  come  so  often." 

Randall  said  nothing,  but  unconsciously  he 
[  117  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

was  stroking  the  bald  spot  already  appearing 
on  the  crown  of  his  head  in  a  way  he  had  when 
worried. 

"  And,  besides,"  justified  Margery,  "  it  is  n't 
treating  Elice  right.  I  think  it 's  a  shame." 

This  time  the  man  looked  up. 

"  She  did  n't  say  anything,  intimate  anything, 
I  hope?"  he  hesitated. 

"  Of  course  not.  It  is  n't  her  way.  She  's 
-  queer  for  a  woman,  Elice  is ;  she  never  gets 
confidential,  no  matter  how  good  an  opportunity 
you  offer."  A  pause  followed  that  spoke  vol 
umes.  "  Agnes  Simpson,  though,  says  there  is 
something  the  matter  —  with  Steve  at  least. 
They  're  talking  about  it  in  the  department." 

'Talking  about  what,  Margery?"  soberly. 
"  He  's  a  friend  of  ours,  you  know." 

'  Yes,  I  know,"  the  voice  was  swift  with  a 
pent-up  secret,  "  and  we  've  tried  hard  to  be  nice 
to  him ;  but,  after  all,  we  're  not  to  blame  that 
he  —  drinks !  " 

"Margery!"  It  was  open  disapproval  this 
time,  a  thing  unusual  for  Harry  Randall.  '  We 
must  n't  listen  to  such  gossip,  either  of  us.  Steve 
and  I  have  been  chums  for  years  and  years 
and  —  we  simply  must  n't  listen  to  such  things 
at  all." 

[118] 


A  Warning 

For  an  instant  the  girl  was  silent;  then  the 
brown  head  tossed  rebelliously. 

;' Well,  I  can't  help  it  if  people  talk;  and  it 
is  n't  fair  of  you  to  suppose  that  I  pass  it  on 
either  —  except  to  you.  You  know  that  I  - 
she  checked  herself.  "  It  is  n't  as  though  Agnes 
was  the  only  one  either,"  she  defended.  "  I  Ve 
heard  it  several  times  lately."  Inspiration  came 
and  she  looked  at  her  husband  directly.  "  Hon 
est,  Harry,  haven't  you  heard  it  too?" 

The  man  hesitated,  and  on  the  instant  solid 
ground  vanished  from  beneath  his  feet. 

'  Yes,  I  have,"  he  admitted  weakly.  "  It 's 
a  burning  shame  too  that  people  will  concoct  - 
He  halted  suddenly,  listening.  His  eyes  went 
to  the  clock.  "  I  had  no  idea  it  was  so  late," 
he  digressed  as  the  bell  rang  loudly.  '  That 's 
Steve  now.  I  know  his  ring." 

Alone  in  the  up-stairs  study,  which  with  its 
folding-bed  was  likewise  spare  sleeping-room 
and  again  smoking-room,  —  Margery  had  not 
yet  surrendered  to  the  indiscriminate  presence 
of  tobacco  smoke,  —  Steve  Armstrong  ignored 
the  chair  Randall  had  proffered  and  remained 
standing,  his  hands  deep  in  his  trousers'  pockets, 
a  look  new  to  his  friend  —  one  restless,  akin  to 
reckless  —  on  his  usually  good-humored  face. 

[119] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Contrary  again  to  precedent  his  dress  was  no 
ticeably  untidy,  an  impression  accentuated  by  a 
two-days'  growth  of  beard  and  by  neglected 
linen.  That  something  far  from  normal  was 
about  to  transpire  Randall  knew  at  a  glance, 
but  courteously  seemed  not  to  notice.  Instead, 
with  a  familiar  wave,  he  indicated  the  cigar- jar 
he  kept  on  purpose  for  visitors  and  took  a  pipe 
himself. 

"  I  have  n't  had  my  after-dinner  smoke  yet," 
he  commented.  :'  Better  light  up  with  me.  It 
always  tastes  better  when  one  has  company." 

'  Thanks."  Armstrong  made  a  selection  ab 
sently  and  struck  a  match;  but,  the  unlighted 
cigar  in  his  fingers,  let  the  match  burn  dead. 
;'  I  don't  intend  to  bother  you  long,"  he 
plunged  without  preface.  "I  know  you  want 
to  work."  He  glanced  nervously  at  the  door 
to  see  that  it  was  closed.  "I  just  wanted  to 
have  a  little  talk  with  you,  a  —  little  heart-to- 
heart  talk." 

*  Yes."  Randall's  face  showed  no  surprise, 
but  his  pipe  bowl  was  aglow  and  his  free  hand 
was  caressing  his  bald  spot  steadily. 

"  Frankly,  old  man,"  the  other  had  fallen  back 
into  his  former  position,  his  hands  concealed,  his 
attitude  stiffly  erect,  "  I  'm  in  the  deuce  of  a 

[  1*0] 


A  Warning 

frame  of  mind  to-night  —  and  undecided."  He 
laughed  shortly.  '  You  're  the  remedy  that  oc 
curred  to  me." 

'  Yes,"  Randall  repeated,  this  time  with  the 
slow  smile,  "  I  am  a  sort  of  remedy.  Sit  down 
and  tell  me  about  it.  I  'm  receptive  at  least." 

"  Sit  down!  I  can't,  Harry."  The  restless 
look  became  one  of  positive  repugnance.  "  I 
have  n't  been  able  to  for  a  half -hour  at  a  stretch 
for  a  week." 

'  Try  it  anyway,"  bluntly.  "  It  won't  do  you 
any  harm  to  try." 

"  Nor  any  good  either.  I  know."  He  threw 
himself  into  a  seat  with  a  nervous  scowl  upon 
his  face.  "  I  have  n't  been  able  to  do  any  real 
work  for  an  age,  which  is  worse,"  he  continued. 
"  My  lectures  lately  have  been  a  disgrace  to  the 
college.  No  one  knows  it  better  than  myself." 

A  moment  Randall  hesitated,  but  even  yet  he 
did  not  put  an  inquiry  direct. 

'Yes?"  he  suggested  again. 

"  I  'm  stale,  I  guess,  or  have  lost  my  nerve 
or  —  or  something."  Armstrong  smiled,  —  a 
crooked  smile  that  failed  to  extinguish  the  fur 
rows  on  his  forehead.  '  By  the  way,  have  you 
got  a  little  superfluous  nerve  lying  about  that 
you  could  stake  me  with?" 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Randall  echoed  the  laugh,  because  it  seemed 
the  only  possible  answer,  but  that  was  all. 

In  the  silence  that  followed  Armstrong  looked 
at  his  friend  opposite,  the  nervous  furrow  be 
tween  his  eyes  deepening. 

"  I  suppose  you  're  wondering,"  he  began  at 
last,  "  just  what 's  the  matter  with  me  and  what 
I  want  of  you.  Concerning  the  first,  there  's 
a  lot  I  might  say,  but  I  won't;  I  '11  spare  you. 
As  to  what  I  want  to  ask  of  you-  Frankly, 
Harry,  straight  to  the  point  and  conventional 
reticence  aside,  ought  I  to  marry  or  ought  n't 
I?"  He  caught  the  other's  expression  and  an 
swered  it  quickly.  '  I  know  this  is  a  peculiar 
thing  to  ask  and  seems,  looking  at  it  from  some 
angles,  something  I  should  n't  ask ;  but  you 
know  all  the  circumstances  between  Elice  and 
me  and,  in  a  way,  our  positions  are  a  good  deal 
similar.  Just  what  do  you  think?  Don't  hesi 
tate  to  tell  me  exactly." 

In  his  seat  Randall  shifted  uncomfortably;  to 
gain  time  he  filled  his  pipe  afresh,  —  a  distinct 
dissipation  for  the  man  of  routine  that  he  was. 

"  Frankly,  as  you  suggest,  Steve,"  he  an 
swered  finally,  "  I  'd  rather  not  discuss  the  sub 
ject,  rather  not  advise.  It 's  —  you  know  why 
-  so  big  and  personal." 

r  122 1 


A  Warning 

"  I  realize  that  and  have  apologized  already 
for  bringing  it  up ;  but  I  can't  decide  myself  - 
I  Ve  tried ;  and  Elice  —  there  are  reasons  why 
she  can't  assist  now  either.  It 's  -  '  he  made 
a  motion  to  rise,  but  checked  himself  -  "  it 's 
something  that  has  to  be  decided  now  too." 

"Has  to?"  Randall's  eyes  behind  the  big 
lens  of  his  glasses  were  suddenly  keen.  '  Why, 
Steve?" 

"  Because  it 's  now  or  never,"  swiftly.  "  I  Ve 
—  we  Ve  hesitated  until  we  can't  delay  any 
longer.  I  'm  not  sure  that  it 's  not  been  too 
long  already,  that 's  why  Elice  can't  figure."  He 
drew  himself  up  with  an  effort,  held  himself 
still.  '  We  Ve  crossed  the  dividing  line,  Elice 
and  I,  and  we  're  drifting  apart.  Just  how  the 
thing  has  come  about  I  don't  know ;  but  it 's  true. 
We  're  on  different  roads  somehow  and  we  're 
getting  farther  apart  every  month."  He  sprang 
to  his  feet,  his  face  turned  away.  "  Soon—  It's 
simply  hell,  Harry!" 

Randall  sat  still ;  recollecting,  he  laughed,  — 
a  laugh  that  he  tried  to  make  natural. 

"  Oh,  pshaw!  "  He  laughed  again.  "  You  're 
mixing  up  some  of  the  novels  you  're  writing 
with  real  life.  This  sort  of  thing  is  nonsense, 
pure  nonsense." 

[  123  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  No,  it 's  so,"  flatly.  "  I  Ve  tried  hard  enough 
to  think  it  different,  but  I  could  n't  because  it 
is  so.  It 's  hell,  I  say!  " 

"Don't  you  love  her,  man?"  abruptly. 

'  Love  her!  "  Armstrong  wheeled,  his  face 
almost  fierce.  "Of  course  I  love  her.  A  hun 
dred  times  yes.  I  'm  a  cursed  fool  over  her." 

"Sit  down  then  and  tell  me  just  what 's  on 
your  mind.  You  're  magnifying  a  mole-hill  of 
some  kind  into  a  snow-capped  peak.  Sit  down, 
please.  You  —  irritate  me  that  way." 

A  second  Armstrong  hesitated.  His  face  a 
bit  flushed,  he  obeyed. 

'  That 's  better."  The  brusqueness  was  de 
liberately  intentional.  "  Now  out  with  it,  clear 
the  atmosphere.  I  'm  listening." 

Armstrong  looked  at  his  friend  a  bit  suspi 
ciously;  but  the  mood  was  too  strong  upon  him 
to  cease  now  even  if  he  would. 

"  Just  what  do  you  wish  to  know? "  he  asked 
in  tentative  prelude.  "  Give  me  a  clew." 

"  What  you  wish  to  tell  me,"  evenly.  "  Neither 
more  nor  less." 

"You  have  no  curiosity?" 

Randall  made  no  comment  this  time,  merely 
waited. 

"  Very  well,  then,  if  you  have  no  curiosity.  .  .  . 

[  124  ] 


A  Warning 

I  don't  know  how  much  to  tell  you  anyway, 
what  you  don't  already  know.  As  I  said  when 
I  first  came  in,  I  did  n't  have  it  in  mind  to  bore 
you  at  all,  I  just  wanted  to  ask  your  opinion  - 
The  speaker  halted  and  hurriedly  lit  the  cigar 
he  had  been  holding.  '  To  jump  into  the  thick 
of  it,  I  got  a  little  letter  from  the  president 
to-day,  a  little  —  warning."  Armstrong  smoked 
fiercely  until  the  flame  lit  up  his  face.  '  It 's 
the  bitterest  humiliation  of  my  life,  Harry,  the 
last  straw!  " 


125  ] 


CHAPTER   VII 

REBELLION 

FOR  a  moment  Harry  Randall  said  nothing, 
then  deliberately  he  glanced  up  and  met 
his  friend's  eyes  direct. 

"  Begin  at  the  beginning  and  tell  me  the  whole 
story,"  he  said  soberly.  "  I  had  no  idea  the 
thing  was  really  so  serious." 

"Well,  it  is,  take  that  for  granted.  It's 
likely  to  be  the  end,  so  far  as  I  am  concerned." 

"  Cut  that  out,  Steve,"  shortly.  "  It 's  melo 
dramatic  and  cheap.  Things  can't  be  so  bad 
if  we  look  at  them  sanely."  He  hesitated,  and 
went  on  with  distinct  effort.  '  To  begin  with, 
I  'm  going  to  ask  you  a  question.  I  hate  it, 
you  know  that  without  my  telling  you,  but 
things  have  gone  too  far  to  mince  matters  evi 
dently.  I  Ve  heard  a  number  of  times  lately 
that  you  were  drinking.  Is  it  so? " 

"Who  told  you  that?"  hotly. 

"  Never  mind  who.  I  tell  you  I  never  be 
lieved  a  word  of  it  until  you  mentioned  the 
president's  warning.  Now-  Is  it  so?" 

[  126  ] 


Rebellion 

Armstrong's  face  went  red,  —  red  to  the  roots 
of  his  hair,  —  then  slowly  shaded  white  until  it 
was  ghastly  pale. 

'  Yes;   it 's  useless,  it  seems,  to  deny  it.    That 
others  knew,  were  talking  about  it,  though  - 
It 's  true,  Harry.     I  admit  it." 

Slowly,  slowly,  Randall  knocked  the  ashes 
out  of  the  pipe-bowl  and  put  it  away  in  a 
drawer  of  the  table. 

"  Very  well,  Steve.  I  shan't  moralize.  None 
of  us  men  are  so  good  we  can  afford  to  begin 
throwing  stones.  .  .  .  Let 's  go  back  a  bit  to 
the  beginning.  There  must  be  one  some 
where,  a  cause.  Just  what 's  the  trouble,  old 
man?" 

'  Trouble!  "  It  was  the  spark  to  tinder,  the 
lead  at  last.  "  Everything,  Harry,  everything." 
A  halt  for  composure.  "  I  suppose  if  I  were 
to  pick  out  one  single  thing,  though,  that  was 
worse  than  another,  it 's  my  writing.  I  think, 
I  know,  that 's  what  brought  on  the  whole 
cursed  mess.  Until  my  last  book  failed  I  had 
hope  and  the  sun  shone.  When  that  went  down 
-down  like  a  lump  of  lead  —  I  haven't  been 
able  to  do  a  thing,  care  for  a  thing  since.  My 
brain  simply  quit  work  too.  It  died,  and  the 
best  of  me  died  with  it." 

f  127  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  And  you  began  to  drink." 

'  Yes,  like  a  fish.  Why  not,  since  I  was  dead 
and  it  helped  me  to  forget?" 

"  Steve!  I  hate  to  preach,  it  doesn't  become 
me ;  but  - 

'Preach  if  you  want  to;  you  can't  hurt  my 
feelings  now."  Armstrong  grew  calm,  for  the 
first  time  that  evening.  '  When  a  fellow  has 
worked  as  I  have  worked  for  years,  and  hoped 
against  hope,  and  still  hoped  on  and  worked  on 
after  failure  and  failure  and  failure  three  times 
repeated-  No,  don't  worry  about  hurting  my 
feelings,  Harry.  Say  what  you  please." 

:'  I  was  n't  going  to  hurt  your  feelings," 
evenly;  "  I  was  only  going  to  preach  a  little. 
I  merely  wanted  to  take  exception  to  that  for 
getting  business.  If  you  '11  just  hold  hard  for 
a  bit  you  '11  forget  normally,  not  artificially. 
Another  six  months  and  you  '11  be  hard  at  an 
other  scheme,  developing  it;  and  the  way  you 
feel  now  -  It  '11  be  a  joke  then,  a  sort  of 
nightmare  to  laugh  over." 

"  Never.  .  .  .  Don't  get  restless ;  I  'm  not  irre 
sponsible  now.  I  'm  merely  telling  you.  I  Ve 
been  asleep  and  dreaming  for  a  long  time,  but 
at  last  I  'm  awake.  Come  what  may,  and  truly 
as  I  'm  telling  you  now,  I  '11  never  write  another 

[  128] 


Rebellion 

novel.  I  could  n't  if  I  wanted  to  —  I  Ve  tried 
and  know ;  and  I  would  n't  if  I  could.  There  's 
a  limit  to  everything,  and  the  limit  of  my  pa 
tience  and  endurance  is  reached.  I  'm  done  for 
now  and  for  all  time."  The  voice  was  not  ex 
cited  now  or  unnaturally  tense,  but  normal,  al 
most  conversational. 

"  For  ten  years  I  Ve  fought  the  good  fight. 
Every  spare  hour  of  that  time  that  I  could 
muster  I  Ve  worked.  I  Ve  lain  awake  night 
after  night  and  night  after  night  tossing  and 
planning  and  struggling  for  a  definite  end. 
The  thing  got  to  be  a  sort  of  religion  to  me.  I 
convinced  myself  that  it  was  my  work  in  the 
big  scheme,  my  allotted  task,  and  I  tried  faith 
fully  to  do  it.  I  never  spared  myself.  I  dis 
sected  others,  of  course;  but  I  dissected  myself 
most,  clear  to  the  bone.  I  even  took  a  sort  of 
joy  in  it  when  it  hurt  most,  for  I  felt  it  was 
my  contribution  and  big.  I  'm  not  bragging 
now,  mind.  I  'm  merely  telling  you  as  it  was. 
I  Ve  gone  on  doing  this  for  ten  years,  I  say. 
When  I  failed  again  I  tried  harder  still.  I  still 
believed  in  myself --and  others.  Recognition, 
appreciation,  might  be  delayed,  but  eventually 
it  would  come,  it  must;  for  this  was  my  work, 
-  to  please  others,  to  amuse  them,  to  carry  them 

9  [  129  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

temporarily  out  of  the  rut  of  their  work-a-day 
lives  and  make  them  forget.  I  believed  this,  I 
say,  believed  and  hoped  and  waited  and  worked 
on  until  the  last  few  months.  Then  —  I  told 
you  what  happened.  Then-  For  the  first 
time  the  speaker  paused.  He  shrugged  char 
acteristically.  "  But  what 's  the  use  of  disturb 
ing  the  corpse.  I  Ve  simply  misread  the  signs  in 
the  sky  —  that 's  all.  I  could  n't  produce  a  better 
novel  than  I  Ve  written  if  I  had  the  longevity 
of  the  Wandering  Jew  and  wrote  to  the  end  — 
for  I  Ve  done  my  best.  The  great  public  that 
I  Ve  torn  myself  to  pieces  to  please  has  seen 
the  offering  and  passed  it  by.  They  will  have 
none  of  it  —  and  they  're  the  arbiters."  He 
shrugged  again,  the  narrow  shoulders  eloquent. 
"  So  be  it.  I  accept;  but  I  offer  no  more.  For 
all  time,  to  finality,  I'm  done,  done!" 

'  Even  if  some  of  your  books  should  win?" 
"  If  every  one  of  them  should  do  so.  If  half 
a  dozen  publishers  came  to  me  personally  and 
begged  me  to  resume  work.  I  may  be  a  poor 
artist,  may  lack  completely  the  artistic  subser 
vience  to  or  superiority  to  discouragement,  prob 
ably  I  do ;  but  at  least  I  know  I  'm  human. 
I  'm  like  a  well  in  the  desert  that 's  been  pumped 
empty  and  left  never  a  mark  on  the  surround- 

\  130  1 


Rebellion 

ing  sand.  I  could  n't  produce  again  if  I  wanted 
to;  I  'm  drained  dry." 

Randall  said  nothing.  He  knew  this  other 
man. 

"  I  tell  you  I  'm  awake,  Harry,  at  last,  and 
see  things  as  they  are;  things  now  so  childishly 
obvious  that  it  seems  incredible  I  could  have 
gone  on  so  long  without  recognizing  them. 
People  prate  about  appreciation  of  artists  of 
various  kinds  and  of  their  work,  grow  maudlin 
over  it  by  artificial  light  in  the  small  hours  of 
the  night.  And  how  do  they  demonstrate  it? 
Once  in  a  while,  the  isolated  exception  that 
proves  the  rule,  by  recognizing  and  rewarding 
the  genius  in  his  lifetime.  Once  in  a  very,  very 
long  time,  I  say.  Mind,  I  don't  elevate  myself 
as  a  genius.  I  'm  merely  speaking  as  an  ob 
server  who  's  awakened  and  knows.  As  a  rule 
what  do  they  do?  Let  him  struggle  and  work 
and  eat  his  heart  out  in  obscurity  and  without 
recognition.  Let  him  starve  himself  body  and 
soul.  After  he  's  dead,  after  a  year  or  a  hun 
dred  years,  after  there  is  no  possibility  of  his 
receiving  the  reward  or  the  inspiration,  they 
arouse.  His  fame  spreads.  His  name  becomes 
a  household  word.  They  desecrate  his  grave,  if 
they  can  find  it,  by  hanging  laurel  on  his  tomb- 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

stone.  They  tear  the  wall-paper  from  the  house 
where  he  once  chanced  to  live  into  ribbons  for 
souvenirs.  If  he  happens  to  be  a  painter  the 
picture  that  brought  him  enough  perhaps  to  keep 
body  and  soul  together  for  a  month  is  fought 
for  until  eventually  it  sells  for  a  fortune.  If 
he  was  a  writer  they  bid  for  a  scrap  of  his 
manuscript  more  than  he  received  for  his  whole 
work.  There  are  exceptions,  I  say;  but  even 
exceptions  only  prove  the  rule.  Think  over  the 
names  of  the  big  artists,  the  big  geniuses.  How 
many  of  them  are  alive  or  were  appreciated  in 
their  own  lives?  How  many  living  to-day  com 
pare  in  the  public  appreciation  with  those  dead? 
None  of  them,  practically,  none.  And  still  do 
you  or  does  any  other  sane  person  fancy  that 
human  beings  are  degenerating  every  genera 
tion,  that  artistic  genius  is  decadent?  It 's  pre 
posterous,  unthinkable!  It  merely  points  the 
moral  that  history  repeats  itself.  Some  place, 
somewhere,  the  greatest  artist  in  the  world  is 
painting  the  greatest  picture  the  world  has  ever 
known  —  and  this  same  world  passes  him  by.  It 
must  be  so,  for  human  beings  advance  with  every 
generation  inevitably.  Some  place,  somewhere, 
the  biggest  writer  of  all  time  is  writing  the  big 
gest  book  —  and  his  neighbors  smile  because  his 

F  132  1 


Rebellion 

clothes  are  rusty.  This  is  the  reward  they  get 
in  their  own  day  and  their  own  generation,  when 
it  would  sweeten  their  lives,  make  them  worth 
living.  The  fellow  who  invents  a  mouse-trap 
or  a  safety  razor  or  devises  a  way  of  sticking 
two  hogs  where  one  was  killed  before,  inherits 
the  earth,  sees  his  name  and  fame  heralded  in 
every  periodical ;  while  the  other,  the  real  man  - 
God,  it 's  unbelievable,  neither  more  nor  less ; 
and  still  it 's  true  to  the  last  detail.  Again,  it 's 
all  civilization,  the  civilization  we  brag  of;  mag 
nificent  twentieth  century  civilization !  " 

Still  Randall  said  nothing,  still  waited. 

Armstrong  hesitated,  drumming  on  the  arm 
of  his  chair  with  his  slender  fingers.  But  the 
lull  was  only  temporary,  the  storm  not  past; 
the  end  was  not  yet. 

"  I  suppose,"  he  forged  on,  "  the  work  should 
be  its  own  reward,  its  own  justification.  At 
least  would-be  artists  are  told  so  repeatedly. 
Whenever  one  rebels  at  the  injustice  the  world 
is  there  with  this  sophistry,  feeds  him  with  it  as 
a  nurse  feeds  pap  to  a  crying  child,  until  he  's 
full  and  temporarily  comatose.  But  just  sup 
pose  for  an  instant  that  the  same  argument  were 
used  in  any  other  field  of  endeavor.  Suppose, 
for  instance,  you  told  the  prospector  who  'd  spent 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

years  searching  for  and  who  'd  finally  found  a 
gold  mine  that  his  reward  should  be  in  the  mere 
knowledge  of  having  found  it,  the  feeling  of 
elation  that  he  had  added  to  the  sum  total  of 
the  world's  wealth,  and  that  he  should  relinquish 
it  intact  as  a  public  trust.  Just  preach  this 
gospel,  and  how  long  would  you  escape  the 
mad-house?  Or  the  architect  who  designs  and 
superintends  the  construction  of  a  sky-scraper. 
Take  him  aside  and  argue  with  him  that  the 
artistic  satisfaction  of  having  conceived  that 
great  pile  of  stone  and  steel  should  repay  him 
for  his  work,  that  to  expect  remuneration  was 
sordid  and  disgusting.  Do  you  think  he  'd  sign 
a  certificate  to  the  effect  that  you  were  normal 
and  sane?  And  still  how  is  it  with  a  writer  in 
this  the  twentieth  century,  —  century  of  enlight 
enment  and  of  progress?  First  of  all  he  must 
go  through  the  formative  period,  which  means 
years.  Nothing,  even  genius,  springs  without 
preparation  into  full  bloom.  No  matter  how 
good  the  idea,  how  big  the  thought,  it  must  be 
moulded  by  a  mastery  of  technique  and  a  pro 
ficiency  that  only  experience  can  give.  And 
meanwhile  he  must  live.  How?  No  matter. 
The  suggestion  is  mundane.  Let  him  settle 
that  for  himself.  At  last,  perhaps,  if  he  has 

r  134 1 


Rebellion 

the  divine  spark,  he  gets  a  hearing.  We  '11 
suppose  he  accomplishes  his  purpose,  —  pleases 
them,  makes  them  think,  or  laugh,  or  forget 
temporarily,  as  the  case  may  be.  In  a  way  he 
has  made  an  opening  and  arrived.  And  yet, 
though  an  artist,  he  is,  first  of  all,  a  human  being, 
an  animal.  The  animal  part  of  him  demands 
insistently  the  good  things  of  life.  If  he  is 
normal  he  wants  a  home  and  a  family  of  his 
own;  and  wants  that  home  as  good  as  that  of 
his  neighbor  who  practises  law  or  makes  soda 
biscuits.  With  this  premise  what  do  the  public, 
who  don't  know  him  personally  but  whom  he 
serves  just  the  same,  do?  The  only  way  they 
can  show  their  appreciation  tangibly  is  by  buy 
ing  his  work;  giving  him  encouragement,  mak 
ing  it  possible  to  live  and  to  write  more.  I 
repeat  I  know  this  is  all  mundane  and  common 
place  and  unassthetic,  but  it 's  reality.  And  do 
they  give  this  encouragement,  buy  themselves, 
and  let  him  make  his  tiny  royalty  which  in  turn 
enables  him  to  live,  pass  an  appreciation  on  to 
their  friends  and  induce  them  to  buy?  In  a 
fractional  proportion  of  times,  yes.  In  the  main, 
John,  whom  the  writer  has  worked  a  year,  day 
and  night,  to  reach,  by  chance  meets  his  friend 
Charley.  *  By  the  way,'  he  remarks,  '  I  picked 

[  135] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

up  that  novel  of  Blank's  lately.  It 's  good,  all 
right,  all  right;  kept  me  up  half  the  night  to 
finish  it.  I  want  you  to  read  it,  old  man.  It 's 
just  your  style.  No  use  to  buy  it,  though,'  he 
adds  hurriedly.  '  Drop  in  sometime  and  I  '11 
lend  it  to  you.'  Of  a  sudden  he  remembers. 
'  Come  to  think  of  it,  though,  I  believe  just 
now  it 's  lent  to  Phil  —  or  was  it  Dick  who  took 
it.  The  story  's  a  corker  and  they  've  both  had 
it.'  He  thinks  again  hard  and  remembers.  '  I 
have  it  now.  Dick  gave  it  to  Sam;  he  told  me 
so.  Get  it  from  him  yourself.  I  know  you  '11 
like  it.'  And  so  the  lending  goes  on  so  long 
as  the  covers  hold  together.  Meanwhile  the 
writer,  away  off  somewhere  wraiting  and  hoping 
and  watching  the  sale,  in  return  for  the  pleasure 
he  gives  John  and  Charley  and  Phil  and  Dick 
and  Sam  and  the  rest,  and  in  consideration  of 
that  year  of  wrork  and  weariness  and  struggle, 
gets  enough  perhaps  to  buy  a  meal  at  a  Chinese 
restaurant.  This  is  appreciation,  I  say,  enlight 
ened  twentieth  century  appreciation;  and  the 
beauty  of  it  is  that  every  one  of  that  company 
who  get  his  work  for  nothing  feel  that  by  their 
praise  and  by  reading  his  work  they  Ve  given 
that  writer,  who  can't  possibly  know  anything 
about  it,  all  that  he  could  possibly  desire."  For 

[  136  ] 


Rebellion 

the  first  time  that  evening  Armstrong  paused 
to  laugh.  "  Oh,  it 's  humorous,  all  right,  when 
one  stops  to  consider  and  appreciate!  Just  sup 
pose,  though,  in  the  name  of  fair  play,  some 
one  had  suggested  to  John  that  he  throw  that 
copy  of  his  in  the  furnace  where  no  one  could 
possibly  borrow  it,  and  then  go  on  telling  his 
appreciation.  Just  supposing  some  one  had 
suggested  that!  Do  you  fancy  John  would 
have  considered  that  person  wholly  sane?  And 
still  that  writer,  besides  being  an  artist,  is  an 
animal  with  a  stomach  and  needs  a  home  to  live 
in,  and  maybe  is  human  enough  to  have  bur 
dened  himself  with  a  wife  and  —  and  children  — 

"  Steve,  confound  it,  you  Ve  gone  on  long 
enough." 

"  I  know  it  —  too  long." 

"  It  does  n't  do  any  good  to  rail  at  something 
you  can't  help,  that  no  one  can  help." 

"  Admitted.  I  'm  just  talking  to  myself  — 
and  you.  It 's  all  the  same." 

'  You  Ve  never  starved  yet  or  gone  without 
clothes,  so  far  as  I  know." 

"  Starved,  no.  I  had  soup  at  my  boarding- 
house  for  lunch  again  to-day  —  soup  with  car 
rots  in  it.  Hungry  —  I  don't  know.  This  is 
a  big  world  we  're  in  and  I  Ve  never  had  the 

[  137  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

chance  even  to  look  over  the  horizon  yet. 
Hungry?  I've  been  hungry  for  —  Elice  for 
years,  and  I  don't  dare  -  Hunger  is  awfully 
near  to  starvation  sometimes,  friend  Harry." 

Harry  Randall  squirmed.  He  saw  it  coming 
-it! 

"  Oh,  things  will  come  all  right  if  you  '11  be 
patient,"  he  said  —  and  halted  himself  for  the 
trite  optimism. 

'Elice  won't;  for  she's  gone  already  while 
I  've  been  patient  —  gone  and  left  me  hungry." 

"Nonsense.     Rot,  plain  rot!" 

"  No,  reality,  plain  reality.  She  probably 
would  n't  admit  it  yet,  not  even  to  herself, 
maybe  does  n't  know  it  yet  herself ;  but  I  know. 
It 's  been  coming  on  a  long  time.  I  see  it  all 
now." 

Randall  made  a  wry  face.     That  was  all. 

*  Yes,  it 's  true,  Harry,  God's  truth.  I  asked 
you  a  peculiar  question  a  while  ago,  —  asked 
whether  I  ought  to  marry.  I  did  n't  mean  it ; 
I  was  just  maudlin.  I  know  without  asking 
that  I  must  n't.  Even  if  Elice  would  consent 
-  and  I  think  she  would  consent  yet,  she 's 
game  —  I  must  n't.  I  'm  waking  up  more  all 
the  time." 

"  Steve,   you  're   maddening  —  impossible.      I 

[  138  ] 


Rebellion 

tell  you,  Elice  will  never  change.    You  know  it 
without  my  telling  you." 

'  Yes,  I  know.  It 's  I  who  have  changed." 
He  remembered  suddenly.  '  Yes ;  it 's  I  who 
have  changed,"  he  repeated  slowly. 

"  Well,  you  '11  change  back  again  then."  The 
effort  to  be  severe  and  commonplace  was  becom 
ing  cumulatively  difficult.  '  You  must." 

"  Must  change  back  —  and  marry  Elice?  " 

"  Yes,"  desperately. 

"  No,  not  if  by  a  miracle  I  could  change 
back." 

'Why?  For  heaven's  sake,  why?  Don't  be 
a  fool,  man." 

"  Why?  "  without  heat.  "Do  you  really  wish 
to  know  why? " 

"  Yes." 

Armstrong  deliberated. 
'  You  yourself  are  one  reason,  friend  Harry." 

"  I  --  I  don't  understand." 
'  Yes,  you  do.    I  'm  not  without  observation. 
You   yourself    would  n't    advise    me    to    marry 
now." 

"Steve!" 

"  You  would  n't,  and  you  know  you  would  n't. 
No  offence.  We  're  simply  looking  things 
squarely  in  the  eye.  It 's  merely  the  tragedy 

r  139 1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

of  pennies  among  evolved  humans  who  require 
dollars  to  live  —  and  must  live.  Am  I  not 
right,  friend  of  mine?" 

No  severity  this  time,  no  commonplace  — 
nothing. 

"  I  repeat,  no  offence;  just  square  in  the  eye. 
Am  I  not  right?" 

"Right?  I  don't  know.  I  can't  answer." 
A  sudden  blaze.  '  You  have  no  right  to 
suggest  - 

"  No.  Pardon  me."  Armstrong's  face  worked 
in  spite  of  himself.  "  Forget  that  I  did  sug 
gest,  Harry.  It  was  brutal  of  me." 

Randall  said  nothing. 

"  But  with  Elice  and  myself  it 's  different. 
I  Ve  awakened  in  time.  Providence,  perhaps, 
sometimes  when  we  least  expect  it  - 

"Steve!"  Randall  had  glanced  up  quickly, 
self  for  the  moment  in  abeyance.  '  What  do 
you  intend  doing,  tell  me  that  ? " 

"Doing?"  It  was  almost  surprise.  "Have 
you  any  honest  doubt  yet,  after  what  I  Ve  told 
you?  "  He  halted,  scrutinizing  his  friend's  face, 
and  seemed  satisfied.  "  I  'm  going  to  release 
her;  release  her  unqualifiedly.  I  can  at  least 
be  man  enough  to  do  that." 

"  And  if  you  do  —  what  of  yourself?  " 


Rebellion 

Armstrong  smiled  forcedly,  a  slow,  mirthless 
smile.  "  Never  mind  about  myself.  I  Ve  glowed 
genially  for  a  long  time,  tried  after  my  own 
fashion  to  warm  a  hearth  somewhere;  but  at 
last  I  'm  burned  out,  nothing  but  cinders.  Never 
mind  about  myself.  The  discussion  is  futile." 

Randall  hesitated;  then  he  gestured  impo- 
tently. 

"  Elice,  then  -      For  her  sake  at  least  - 

"  It 's  for  her  sake  I  '11  do  it,  because  she  '11 
never  do  it  herself.  I  repeat,  I  can  at  least  be 
man  enough  to  do  that  much  for  her,  make 
amends  to  that  extent."  He  looked  straight 
before  him,  seeing  nothing.  "She  '11  be  happy 
yet,  when  I  'm  well  out  of  the  way." 

"  Steve!  "  Argument  would  not  come,  rebut 
tal;  only  that  cry  that  acknowledged  its  own 
helplessness.  "  I  can't  bear  to  have  things  go 
that  way.  I  know  you  both  so  well,  like  you 
so  much." 

"I  realize  that,"  dully;  "but  it's  not  your 
fault,  —  not  any  one's  fault  in  particular  that 
I  can  see." 

Randall  did  not  gesture  this  time.  Even  that 
avenue  seemed  barred. 

"  If  I  could  only  say  something  to  influence 
you,  to  convince  you  —  something  adequate." 

[  141  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

'  There  's  nothing  to  be  said  that  I  can  see, 
or  done,  for  that  matter.  It 's  like  a  church 
catechism,  cut  and  dried  generations  ahead." 

It  was  the  final  word,  and  for  a  long  time 
they  sat  there  silent,  unconscious  of  the  passing 
minutes;  alike  gazing  at  the  blank  wall  which 
circumstance  had  thrown  in  the  way,  alike  look 
ing  for  an  opening  where  opening  there  was 
none.  At  last,  when  the  silence  had  become  un 
bearable,  Randall  roused,  and  with  an  effort 
forced  a  commonplace. 

"  Anyway,  as  yet  you  're  reckoning  without 
your  host  —  in  this  case  Elice,"  he  formalized. 
"  After  you  've  seen  her  - 

"  It  will  merely  be  ended  then  —  that  is  all." 

"  I  'm  not  so  sure,  even  yet." 

"  I  repeat  that  I  know,  know  to  finality. 
Some  things  one  can't  question  when  they  're 
awake.  Moreover,  I  have  a  reason  for  knowing." 

It  was  a  new  note,  that  last  comment;  a  note 
of  repression  where  all  before  had  been  unre- 
pressed.  Moreover,  it  was  a  lead  intentionally 
offered. 

u  What  is  it,  Steve? "  asked  the  other  simply. 
'  There  's  something  yet  which  you  have  n't  told 
me." 

*  Yes."     Once  more  Armstrong's  eyes  were 


Rebellion 

on  the  wall  straight  before  him,  the  wall  he  did 
not  see.  "  I  merely  suggested  it  a  bit  ago.  I 
said  Elice  had  drifted  away  while  I  was  being 
patient.  At  first  that  drifting  was  very  slow, 
so  slow  that  I  did  n't  realize  it  myself ;  during 
the  last  few  months  she  's  been  going  fast."  The 
speaker  moistened  his  lips  unconsciously;  but, 
watching,  the  other  noticed.  '  Things  seldom 
happen  in  this  world  without  a  reason,  and  they 
did  n't  in  this  case."  Suddenly,  without  warn 
ing,  he  whirled,  met  the  other  eye  to  eye.  "  Do 
I  need  to  suggest  more?"  he  asked  steadily. 

"Suggest  —  more?"  Randall's  look  was 
blank.  "  I  don't  believe  I  understand." 

"  I  mean  concerning  —  the  reason  I  mentioned. 
Have  n't  you  noticed  anything  yourself,  had  any 
intimation? " 

"  I  know  nothing,  have  noticed  nothing." 

"  No?  "  Armstrong's  scrutiny  was  merciless, 
all  but  incredulous.  "  Nothing  concerning  Elice 
and  —  and  Darley  Roberts  —  not  a  whisper?" 

Against  his  will  Randall's  eyes  dropped.  At 
last  he  understood. 

'  You  have  heard.  I  thought  so."  Arm 
strong  fumbled  with  his  cuffs,  played  for  time, 
which  meant  for  self-control.  "  I  'm  glad.  It 
saves  my  —  explaining." 

[143] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

1  Yes,  I  Ve  heard."  Randall's  tongue  lagged 
unwillingly.  'I  couldn't  help  it;  but  believed, 
in  the  least,  before  —  no.  I  thought  he  was 
your  friend." 

'  Was,  yes.  Now  -  It 's  been  some  time 
since  we  came  to  an  understanding;  and  he  told 
me,  warned  me.  I  don't  blame  him  —  or  her. 
I  Ve  had  my  chance,  ample  chance,  God  knows. 
...  It 's  simply  true." 

Randall  looked  up  unbelievingly. 

"  And  you  don't  hate  him,  you  who  were  his 
friend?" 

:'  Hate?  ...  I  don't  know,  don't  know  any 
thing  these  days  except  that  I  'm  down  —  down ; 
down  in  the  mire,  deep !  "  It  was  the  end,  the 
last  crumb  of  confidence,  and  Armstrong  leaped 
to  his  feet.  '  But  what 's  the  use  of  dissecting 
any  more,  what  possible  use? "  His  hat  was  in 
his  hand  and  he  was  heading  for  the  door. 
'  It 's  all  simply  maddening,  and  I  'm  a  fool, 
a  visionary  fool,  who  can't  change  myself  or 
alter  events ;  powerless  -  He  halted,  turned 
half  about.  Instinctive  courtesy  sprang  to  his 
lips.  :'  Pardon  me,  Harry,  for  bothering  you 
with  all  this  when  you  can  do  nothing.  I  had 
no  idea  when  I  came  of  staying  so  long  or  - 
or  of  making  a  spectacle  of  myself."  He  smiled, 

[  144  ] 


Rebellion 

almost  his  old  smile.  "  Forgive  me  this  time 
and  I  promise  never  to  do  it  again,  never." 
He  turned  once  more  to  the  door.  "  Don't  get 
up,  old  man.  I  can  find  my  way  out.  Good 
night." 

"  Steve!  Wait!  "  Randall  too  was  on  his  feet, 
a  sudden  premonition  of  things  to  come  in  his 
mind,  a  feeling,  more  than  of  pity,  for  the  in 
tention  he  read  clear  in  the  other's  face.  "  Don't 
go  yet  —  don't  go  at  all.  Stay  with  me  to-night, 
please." 

"  Stay!  "  Armstrong  too  understood,  and,  un 
derstanding,  smiled ;  a  smile  the  other  man  never 
forgot.  "Stay  —  to-night?  .  .  .  No,  thank  you. 
I  appreciate  your  motive,"  hurriedly,  "  don't 
fancy  it 's  not  that;  but-  "  no  questioning  that 
preventing  gesture,  no  combating  it  -  "  but  to 
night  I  'm  going  to  forget.  .  .  .  Yes,  and  to 
morrow  night,  and  the  next  —  and  the  next!  " 


10  [  145  ] 


CHAPTER   VIII 

CATASTROPHE 

fT^HREE  evenings  in  succession  a  tall  young 
A  man  with  an  ulster  turned  up  high  above 
his  chin  and  a  derby  hat  lowered  well  over  his 
eyes  circled  the  block  of  which  the  Gleason  lot 
and  cottage  was  a  part.  The  first  time,  in  front 
of  the  house  itself,  he  had  merely  halted,  hands 
deep  in  his  pockets,  obviously  uncertain;  then, 
as  though  under  strain  of  an  immediate  engage 
ment  beyond,  had  hastened  on.  The  second  time 
he  had  passed  up  the  walk,  half  way  to  the 
door;  had  of  a  sudden  changed  his  mind,  and 
disappeared  rapidly  as  before.  The  third  even 
ing,  the  present,  however,  there  had  been  no 
uncertainty,  no  hesitation.  Instead,  he  had 
walked  straight  to  the  knocker,  and,  a  gray- 
haired  man  in  lounging- jacket  and  carpet  slip 
pers  answering  his  ring,  had  come  to  anchor  in 
the  familiar  den.  From  his  moorings  in  the 
single  comfortable  chair  the  place  afforded,  which 
had  been  compellingly  pressed  upon  him,  he  was 
listening  to  the  other's  explanation. 

[  146] 


Catastrophe 

"  I  think  she  '11  return  soon,  though,  very 
soon."  Mr.  Gleason  adjusted  his  horn-rimmed 
eyeglasses  and  peered  near-sightedly  at  his  big 
open-faced  silver  watch.  "  She  said  she  'd  be 
back  early  and  it 's  nearly  nine  now." 

"  Something  going  on,  something  important, 
I  mean? " 

"  No;  I  don't  think  so.  Just  out  for  a  little 
air,  and  dropped  in  on  one  of  the  girls  maybe. 
She  's  got  three  freshmen  she  's  coaching  now, 
and  with  that  out-of-town  class  and  the  house 
here  -  The  long  bony  fingers  tapped  ab 
sently  tip  to  tip.  "  It 's  the  only  time  that 
she  has  and  I  encourage,  insist  almost,  that 
she  go." 

"  Yes." 

The  tapping  fingers  went  still. 

"  I  think  sometimes  I  'm  a  bit  guilty  that  she 
at  her  age  —  that  it  should  seem  to  be  neces 
sary,  I  mean  -  Maybe  I  imagine  it,  but  it 
seems  to  me  as  though  Elice  was  sort  of  fagged 
and  different  this  winter." 

The  visitor  unbuttoned  his  coat  leisurely. 

"  I  had  n't  noticed  it,"  he  refuted. 

"  No?  I  'm  glad  to  hear  you  say  it.  You  'd 
have  noticed,  I  guess,  if  any  one.  Probably  it 's 
all  my  imagination." 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  Elice  herself  has  n't  said  anything,  intimated 
anything? " 

"  Not  a  word  or  a  hint.  Certainly  not." 
Something  akin  to  surprise  spoke  in  the  quick 
reply.  "  She  even  wanted  to  take  on  another 
out-of-town  class,  but  I  vetoed  that.  She  's  as 
her  mother  was,  Elice :  always  planning  on  doing 
just  a  little  more." 

'  Than  she  ought,  you  think? " 

"  Yes." 

Without  apparent  excuse,  unconsciously,  the 
visitor  rebuttoned  his  double-breasted  coat. 

"  Some  people,"  he  commented,  "  work  —  more 
than  they  ought  to,  to  forget;  and  others  again 
do  —  various  things." 

'What?    I  beg  your  pardon." 

'  To  forget,  to  attain  callousness,  to  cease  to 
feel.  There  are  many  formulas  tried,  many." 

"  I  fear  I  fail  to  understand." 

"  Doubtless.  I  don't  understand  nryself.  I 
was  simply  rambling.  Pardon  me." 

Over  the  horn  nose-glasses  Mr.  Gleason  scru 
tinized  the  face  of  the  younger  man  intently. 

"  Certainly.  For  what,  though,  I  admit  I  'm 
mystified."  He  glanced  away  perfunctorily. 
'  Everything  is  running  normally,  I  suppose, 
in  your  department?" 

f  148  1 


Catastrophe 

'  Yes,  about  as  usual,  Iguess,  practically  so." 

"  Better  than  usual  according  to  Dean  San- 
ford,"  cheerfully.  "  He  's  inclined  to  brag  a 
little  this  year,  justifiedly,  too,  one  must  admit 
from  the  attendance." 

'  Yes,  the  attendance  is  excellent  —  among 
the  students.  Among  the  faculty — did  the  dean 
seem  inclined  to  brag  any  on  the  faculty?" 

"No;  he  only  talked  a  few  moments."  Mr. 
Gleason  produced  the  big  timepiece  again  has 
tily.  "  Nine  o'clock.  I  wonder  what  can  be 
keeping  Elice,"  he  fidgeted. 

The  visitor  smiled,  an  odd  smile,  neither  of 
bitterness  nor  yet  of  amusement. 

"  Not  inclined  particularly  to  brag  on  his  fac 
ulty,  the  dean,  I  gather?  "  returned  Armstrong. 

The  older  man  straightened.  Out  of  kindness 
he  would  retreat  so  far ;  but  if  pursued  - 

"  No,  he  barely  mentioned  the  faculty,  as  I 
remember." 

"  Not  even  the  professor  of  chemistry? " 

The  horn-rimmed  glasses  had  left  their  owner's 
nose  and,  as  they  had  a  way  of  doing  when  the 
old  man  was  abstracted,  swung  like  a  pendulum 
from  his  fingers. 

"  Not  even  the  professor  of  chemistry? "  re 
peated  Armstrong. 

[  149  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Very  quietly  the  older  man  held  his  ground, 
very  steadily. 

"Just  what  is  it  you  wish  to  know,  Steve?" 
he  asked  directly.  '  You  gathered,  of  course,  it 
was  a  board  meeting  I  referred  to  —  and  confi 
dential  naturally.  I  think  I  need  say  no  more." 

"  No,  no  more,  certainly.  I  was  merely  curi 
ous  to  know  if  you  knew.  You  've  satisfied  my 
curiosity,  I  believe." 

"  Satisfied!  I  'm  afraid  you  're  taking  a  bit 
for  granted.  I  repeat,  if  you  '11  tell  me  explicitly 
what  you  wish  - 

"  I  was  mistaken,  then,  after  all,"  with  a 
peculiar  direct  look.  '  You  don't  really  know, 
Sanford  did  n't  announce  -  I  'm  surprised.  I 
never  fancied  he  'd  miss  the  opportunity.  It 's 
superhuman  repression!  " 

For  fully  half  a  minute  Mr.  Gleason  said 
nothing;  then  at  the  interrupting  sound  of  foot 
steps  in  the  storm  vestibule,  followed  an  instant 
later  by  the  click  of  a  latch-key,  he  leaned  sud 
denly  toward  the  younger  man. 

'  That 's  Elice  now,"  he  said.  The  voice  was 
almost  childishly  hurried  and  curious.  '  What 
was  it  that  you  wondered  I  did  n't  know,  that 
Sanford  didn't  announce?" 

From  under  shaded  lids  Armstrong  observed 

[  150] 


Catastrophe 

the  change  and  smiled.  The  smile  vanished  as 
a  shadow  passed  through  the  entrance. 

"  I  merely  marvelled  that  the  dean  did  n't 
announce  that  there  would  be  no  professor  of 
chemistry  after  another  week,  the  close  of  the 
present  semester,"  he  said  evenly.  '  That  is, 
until  a  new  one  is  appointed." 

"Steve!"  The  old  man's  face  went  gray, 
—  gray  as  the  face  of  a  believer  whose  gods 
have  been  offered  sacrilege.  In  the  silence  the 
shadow  advanced  to  the  doorway  of  the  room 
itself;  very  real,  paused  there  waiting,  all-seeing, 
listening.  '  You  mean  you  're  leaving  the  de 
partment  then,  quitting  for  good?  " 

"  For  good,  no,  hardly."  Again  a  laugh,  but 
tense  now,  forced.  "  Nor  quitting.  In  plain 
English  I  mean  I  'm  kicked  out,  fired.  By  re 
quest,  very  insistent  request,  I  've  resigned." 
With  an  effort  he  met  the  girl's  eyes  fairly. 
"  I  Ve  babbled  my  last  lecture  in  college  halls, 
piped  my  swan  song.  The  curtain  is  down,  the 
orchestra  has  packed  its  instruments.  Only  the 
echo  now  remains." 

"  Tell  me  about  it,  Steve."  The  old  man  had 
gone,  dodderingly,  on  a  pitifully  transparent 
pretext.  The  girl  had  tossed  coat  and  gloves 

[151] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

For  long,  interminably  long  it  seemed  to  the 
watcher,  the  girl  stood  where  she  had  paused, 
midway;  the  figure  of  her  still,  too  still,  her 
face  shading  first  red  to  the  ear  tips,  then  slowly 
colorless  as  understanding  drove  home.  A  half- 
minute  probably,  in  reality,  immeasurably  longer 
to  them  both  it  seemed,  she  stood  so.  Without 
a  word  she  went  back  to  her  seat,  remained 
there,  unnaturally  still,  her  arms,  bare  to  the 
elbow  in  half  sleeves,  forming  a  great  white  V 
as  the  clasped  hands  lay  motionless  in  her  lap. 

For  another  half -minute  no  word  was  spoken, 
no  sound  from  without  drifted  into  the  room. 
Suddenly  the  girl  turned,  her  great  dark  eyes 
met  those  of  the  man,  held  them  steadily. 

'  You  said  there  was  something  else  you 
wished  to  tell  me.  I  can't  imagine  anything 
more,  anything  you  did  n't  tell  just  now.  How 
ever,  I  'm  listening." 

The  man  said  nothing,  nor  moved --just 
looked  at  her. 

"  I  repeat,  I  'm  listening." 

'  Yes,  I  notice."  Armstrong  pulled  himself 
together  absently.  "  I  was  thinking  of  some 
thing  else;  I  'd  forgotten  momentarily.  I  al 
ways  was  an  absent-minded  specimen ;  and  lately 
• —  I  Ve  been  worse  than  usual  lately." 

[  154] 


Catastrophe 

The  girl  merely  waited  this  time,  the  great 
brown  eyes  wide  and  dry. 

'  When  it  comes  to  telling  you,  though," 
stumbled  on  the  man,  "  what  I  came  to  tell  you 
to-night,  what  I  don't  wish  to  tell  you  but 
must  —  Elice,  don't  look  at  me,  please ;  don't ! 
My  nerve  's  gone.  Don't  you  wish  to  ask  me 
questions  instead?" 

"  Perhaps,"  obediently  the  girl  turned  away, 
"  after  you  Ve  made  things  clear  a  bit.  Don't 
fancy  I  'm  trying  to  make  it  hard  for  you. 
I  'm  not,  only,  only  -  Remember,  I  'm  all  in 
the  dark  yet,  all  confused." 

"  Yes,  I  know  —  and  I  'm  to  blame.  I  Ve 
been  trying  for  a  week  to  bring  myself  to  tell 
you,  one  thing  at  a  time ;  but  I  could  n't,  and 
now  —  everything  's  tumbled  on  my  head  to 
gether  now." 

"  Everything?  Steve,  begin  somewhere,  any 
where.  Don't  suggest  things ;  tell  me.  It 's  been 
ten  days  since  you  called  last.  Why  was  that? " 

"  I  was  afraid.  I  tried  to  come,  but  I 
could  n't." 

"Afraid  of  what?" 

"  Of  you,  of  myself,  of  life.  I  Ve  known  that 
long  to  a  certainty  that  the  play  was  over  be 
tween  you  and  me,  but  I  could  n't  bring  my- 

r  155 1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

For  long,  interminably  long  it  seemed  to  the 
watcher,  the  girl  stood  where  she  had  paused, 
midway;  the  figure  of  her  still,  too  still,  her 
face  shading  first  red  to  the  ear  tips,  then  slowly 
colorless  as  understanding  drove  home.  A  half- 
minute  probably,  in  reality,  immeasurably  longer 
to  them  both  it  seemed,  she  stood  so.  Without 
a  word  she  went  back  to  her  seat,  remained 
there,  unnaturally  still,  her  arms,  bare  to  the 
elbow  in  half  sleeves,  forming  a  great  white  V 
as  the  clasped  hands  lay  motionless  in  her  lap. 

For  another  half -minute  no  word  was  spoken, 
no  sound  from  without  drifted  into  the  room. 
Suddenly  the  girl  turned,  her  great  dark  eyes 
met  those  of  the  man,  held  them  steadily. 

'  You  said  there  was  something  else  you 
wished  to  tell  me.  I  can't  imagine  anything 
more,  anything  you  did  n't  tell  just  now.  How 
ever,  I  'm  listening." 

The  man  said  nothing,  nor  moved  —  just 
looked  at  her. 

"  I  repeat,  I  'm  listening." 

'  Yes,  I  notice."  Armstrong  pulled  himself 
together  absently.  "  I  was  thinking  of  some 
thing  else;  I  'd  forgotten  momentarily.  I  al 
ways  was  an  absent-minded  specimen ;  and  lately 
• —  I  Ve  been  worse  than  usual  lately." 

f  1541 


Catastrophe 

The  girl  merely  waited  this  time,  the  great 
brown  eyes  wide  and  dry. 

"  When  it  comes  to  telling  you,  though," 
stumbled  on  the  man,  "  what  I  came  to  tell  you 
to-night,  what  I  don't  wish  to  tell  you  but 
must  —  Elice,  don't  look  at  me,  please ;  don't ! 
My  nerve  's  gone.  Don't  you  wish  to  ask  me 
questions  instead? " 

"  Perhaps,"  obediently  the  girl  turned  away, 
"  after  you  Ve  made  things  clear  a  bit.  Don't 
fancy  I  'm  trying  to  make  it  hard  for  you. 
I  'm  not,  only,  only  -  Remember,  I  'm  all  in 
the  dark  yet,  all  confused." 

"  Yes,  I  know  —  and  I  'm  to  blame.  I  Ve 
been  trying  for  a  week  to  bring  myself  to  tell 
you,  one  thing  at  a  time ;  but  I  could  n't,  and 
now  —  everything  's  tumbled  on  my  head  to 
gether  now." 

"  Everything?  Steve,  begin  somewhere,  any 
where.  Don't  suggest  things ;  tell  me.  It 's  been 
ten  days  since  you  called  last.  Why  was  that? " 

"  I  was  afraid.  I  tried  to  come,  but  I 
could  n't." 

"Afraid  of  what?" 

"Of  you,  of  myself,  of  life.  I  Ve  known  that 
long  to  a  certainty  that  the  play  was  over  be 
tween  you  and  me,  but  I  could  n't  bring  my- 

[  155  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

self  to  say  the  word.  It 's  just  this  I  was  afraid 
of.  This!" 

'  You  mean  to  tell  me  now  that  all  is  over? " 
Unconsciously  this  time  the  girl  had  shifted  fac 
ing;  quietly  —  again,  too  quietly  —  was  putting 
the  query  direct:  "That's  what  you're  telling 
me  now? " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  why  -  Am  I  the  cause  —  have  I  by 
word  or  act  —  have  I  ?  " 

"  No." 

'  Is  it  because  you  Ve  lost  your  chair  in  the 
University? " 

"  No." 

"Why,  then?" 

"  Because  we  Ve  ceased  to  be  necessary  to 
each  other,  have  grown  apart." 

'  You  think  we  Ve  changed  ?  .  .  .  I  Ve  not 
changed." 

"  No.  It 's  I  who  have  changed,  have  grown 
away  from  you." 

"Since  when?  Let's  have  it  all.  Let's  un 
derstand  everything.  Since  when? " 

:'  I  don't  know  when,  can't  set  a  date.  I 
merely  know." 

'  That  —  that  you  don't  care  for  me  any 
more? " 

[  156] 


"  Steve  !"     The  girl  was  on  her  feet.     «  I  never  dreamed, 
never  —      You  poor  boy  !  " 

[Page  IBS] 


Catastrophe 

A  halt,  a  long,  long  halt. 

"  Yes,  Elice,"  said  a  voice  at  last.  "  I  've 
found  out  that  I  don't  care  for  you  any  more." 

As  before,  the  girl  said  nothing,  never 
stirred. 

"  I   shan't  try  to  defend  myself,  try  to  ex 
plain,"  stumbled  on  the  man.      ;'  I  could  n't  if 
I  would.     The  thing  has  simply  come  about - 
I  wish  to  ask  you  to  release  me." 

"  Steve!  "  Of  a  sudden  the  girl  was  on  her 
feet,  the  forced  composure  of  a  moment  ago  in 
tatters,  the  tiny  hands  locked  tight.  :'  I  can't 
believe  it,  can't  credit  it.  I  love  you,  Steve,  in 
spite  of  all  you  've  told  me ;  more,  because  you 
need  me  more  now."  The  locked  fingers  opened. 
She  came  a  step  forward  in  mute  appeal.  '  Tell 
me  that  you  don't  mean  it,  that  you  're  merely 
acting,  that,  that-  As  suddenly  she  halted. 
Her  face  hidden  in  her  hands,  she  dropped  back 
into  the  seat.  "  Forget,  please,"  she  halted, 
"  that  I  did  that.  I  did  n't  mean  to.  I  -  - 1  - 
forget  it." 

;' Elice —  dear!"  Aroused  beyond  his  pur 
pose,  his  determination,  the  man  sprang  from 
his  seat,  his  eyes  ablaze,  glorious.  '  Elice  - 

"  No,  not  pity!  Never,  a  thousand  times  no! 
Leave  me  alone  a  minute.  I  release  you,  yes, 

[  157  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

yes ;  but  don't  come  near  me  now.  I  'm  hys 
terical  and  irresponsible.  Don't,  please !  " 

Precisely  where  he  stood  Armstrong  paused, 
looking  down.  After  that  first  involuntary 
sound  he  had  not  spoken  or  come  closer.  He 
merely  remained  there,  waiting,  looking;  and  as 
he  did  so,  though  the  room  was  far  from  close, 
drops  of  sweat  gathered  on  his  forehead  and 
beneath  his  eyes.  With  a  restless  hand  he 
brushed  them  away  and  sat  down.  Another 
minute  passed,  two  perhaps;  then  suddenly, 
interrupting,  incongruous,  there  sounded  the 
strained  rasp  of  his  laugh. 

"  Elice,"  followed  a  voice,  "  are  n't  you  through 
-nearly?"  Again  the  laugh;  grating,  un- 
mirthful.  "  I  Ve  done  this  sort  of  thing  iden 
tically  in  novels  several  times,  done  it  realistic 
ally,  I  thought;  but  it  never  took  this  long  by 
minutes.  Aren't  you  almost  through?" 

Surprised  out  of  herself  the  girl  looked  up, 
incredulous. 

"  Something  must  be  wrong,  art  or  reality, 
one  or  the  other.  I  -  -  I  wonder  —  which  was 
wrong,  Elice?" 

As  suddenly  as  the  mood  of  abandon  had  come 
it  passed;  incredulity,  its  successor,  as  well.  In 
the  space  of  seconds  the  miracle  was  wrought, 

[  158] 


Catastrophe 

and  another  woman  absolutely  sat  there  looking 
forth  from  the  brown  eyes  of  Elice  Gleason. 

"  Steve!  I  thought  I  was  ready  for  anything 
after  what  you  just  told  me,  what  you  just 
asked.  But  this  deliberate  —  insult.  .  .  .  Did 
you  mean  it,  Steve,  really;  or  are  you  merely 
acting?  .  .  .  Don't  look  away;  this  means  the 
world  to  you  and  me,  and  I  want  to  be  sure, 
now.  .  .  .  Did  you  mean  it,  Steve,  the  way  you 
did  it,  deliberately?  Tell  me." 

"  Mean  it?  Certainly.  It 's  important,  what 
I  asked,  from  an  artist's  point  of  view.  Either 
I  was  wrong  or  else  reality  is  —  overdone.  .  .  . 
Repression  's  the  word,  all  critics  agree,  repres 
sion  invariably." 

"  Steve  Armstrong!  Stop!  I  won't  stand  it. 
Listen.  It 's  unbelievable,  but  I  must  take  you 
at  your  word  —  your  own  word.  Do  you  mean 
exactly  what  you've  said,  and  done?" 

Again  the  moisture  sprang  to  Armstrong's 
face,  but  this  time  there  was  no  attempt  at 
procrastination. 

'  Yes,  Elice,"  he  said,  and  looked  her  fair. 

"Yes?    Think.     This  is  final." 

"  Yes." 

An  instant  the  look  held;  the  brown  eyes 
dropped. 

[159] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  I  repeat,  then,  you  are  released,  free."  She 
sat  very  still.  "  Is  there  anything  else  you  wish 
to  say?" 

"  Perhaps.  I  don't  know.  .  .  .  You  mean,  if 
I  have  I  'm  to  say  it  now.  I  can't  come  again. 
.  .  .  You  're  not  going  to  forgive  me? " 

"Forgive?  Certainly,  if  there  is  anything  to 
forgive.  I  had  no  thought  otherwise." 

"  I  'm  not  to  come  again,  though.  You  mean 
that?" 

"  I  fail  to  see  the  object.  .  .  .  To  use  an  ex 
pression  of  your  own,  it 's  desecration  to  disturb 
the  corpse." 

"Even  if- 

"  Let 's  not  argue  about  nothing.  I  'm  not 
cursed  with  nerves  ordinarily,  but  there  are 
times  -  She  arose  slowly,  stood  there  beside 
her  chair,  gracefully  slender,  gracefully  imperi 
ous.  '  You  've  chosen  deliberately,  you  know." 

*  Yes,  I  know."  Armstrong  too  had  arisen 
in  his  dismissal,  involuntarily  obedient.  "  But 
you  said,  before  I  told  you,  before  you  under 
stood,  that  afterward,  perhaps  -  You  remem 
ber  you  said  that?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  remember.  Things  are  changed 
now,  though.  What  I  had  in  mind  you  've  an 
swered  yourself.  .  .  .  One  thing  I  would  like 

[  160  ] 


Catastrophe 

to  ask,  however,  one  thing  that  I  hope  you  will 
answer  truly,  no  matter  whether  it  hurts  me  or 
not.  It 's  this :  Was  I  to  blame  in  any  way 
whatever,  by  word  or  act  or  suggestion,  for  your 
losing  your  place  in  the  University?  Will  you 
answer  me  that  —  and  truly?  " 

From  the  chair  where  he  had  thrown  it  down 
Armstrong  took  up  the  long  ulster  and  buttoned 
it  mechanically  to  his  throat. 

"No,  Elice,"  he  repeated;  "you're  not  at 
fault  in  any  way,  by  word  or  act  or  suggestion. 
There  's  no  one  at  fault  except  myself." 

'  Thank  you.  I  would  always  have  feared, 
if  I  had  n't  asked,  that  somehow  unintention 
ally  —  "  She  was  silent. 

Armstrong  hesitated,  waiting  until  there  was 
no  longer  hope. 

'  You  have  nothing  else  you  wish  to  say, 
then? "  he  asked  at  last. 

"  Nothing ;  unless  it  is  this,  that  you  know 
already:  I  shall  always  believe  in  you,  Steve, 
always." 

"  Believe  in  me!  "  The  shade  of  the  old  ironic 
smile  did  duty.  '  You  think  I  shall  still  become 
wealthy  and  famous? " 

"  Perhaps  not,"  swiftly.    "  I  never  demanded 
either  qualification  of  you.     Why  should  I  lie 
11  [  161  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

now?  Both  are  right  and  desirable  in  their  place, 
provided  they  come  normally;  but  their  place 
is  second,  not  first.  You  know  what  I  mean. 
I  believe  that  you  will  always  be  clean  and  fair 
and  likeable  —  always." 

Involuntarily  the  man  turned  away,  until  his 
face  was  hidden. 

'  You  believe  this,  and  still  —  you  don't  give 
advice  or  —  or  warning?" 

"  I  repeat,  I  believe  in  you.  Even  if  it  were  n't 
an  insult  advice  would  not  be  necessary." 

A  last  second  they  stood  there,  so  near,  so 
very  near  together  and  still  so  infinitely  far 
apart.  Dully,  almost  ploddingly,  the  man 
turned  to  leave. 

"  Thank  you,  Elice,"  he  said.  "  That 's  prob 
ably  the  last  kind  word  I  '11  hear  for  a  long 
time.  Perhaps,  too,  it 's  justified,  perhaps  — 
who  knows?  Good-night  and  —  good-bye." 

The  girl  did  not  follow  him,  did  not  move. 

"  Good-bye,  Steve,"  she  echoed. 


[  162] 


BOOK  II 


BOOK  II 

CHAPTER   I 

ANTICIPATION 

"  A  RE  you  given  to  remembering  dates, 
-fTL  Elice?" 

There  had  been  a  pause,  —  one  of  the  inevi 
table,  normal  pauses  that  occur  when  two  people 
who  are  intimate  are  alone  and  conversation 
drifts  where  it  will.  Into  this  particular  void, 
without  preamble,  entered  this  question. 

"Sometimes.    Why?" 

"  Not  always,  then?  " 

"  No.  I  have  n't  any  particular  tendency  that 
way  that  I  know  of.  Possibly  I  'm  not  yet  old 
enough  for  it  to  develop." 

'  To  be  more  specific,  then,  to-day  is  Decem 
ber  the  sixth."  Darley  Roberts'  eyelids  nar 
rowed  whimsically.  "  Does  that  particular  date 
have  any  special  significance,  recall  anything  out 
of  the  ordinary  to  you?" 

Elice  Gleason  glanced  up  from  the  four-leafed 
clover  she  was  bringing  to  life  on  the  scrap  of 

[  165  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

linen  in  her  lap,  and  looked  at  her  companion 
thoughtfully. 

"  From  the  way  you  come  at  me,  point  blank," 
she  smiled,  "  I  have  no  doubt  it  should.  Your 
chance  questions,  I  've  discovered,  always  do  have 
a  string  attached  to  them  somewhere.  But  just 
at  this  particular  moment  I  admit  December  the 
sixth  recalls  nothing  in  particular." 

"  Not  even  when  I  add,  at  approximately 
eight  o'clock  in  the  evening?  It 's  that  now. 
I  Ve  been  consulting  the  timepiece  over  there." 

"No;  not  even  that.  I'm  more  and  more 
convinced  it 's  a  distinct  lapse  on  my  part ;  but 
again  I  'm  compelled  to  confess  incompetency. 
When  did  what  happen  at  approximately  eight 
P.  M.  on  December  the  sixth? " 

Darley  Roberts  stroked  his  great  chin  with 
reminiscent  deliberation. 

"  On  December  sixth,  at  eight  o'clock  p.  M., 
precisely  one  year  ago,"  he  explained  minutely, 
"  a  certain  man  called  on  a  certain  young  woman 
of  his  acquaintance  for  the  first  time.  It  was, 
I  am  reliably  informed,  a  momentous  occasion 
for  him.  Moreover  he  -  Had  you  really  for 
gotten,  Elice?" 

"  Yes  —  the  date." 

"  Strange.     I  had  n't.     Perhaps,   though,   it 

[  166  ] 


Anticipation 

meant  more  to  me  than  to  you."  He  laughed 
peculiarly.  "  I  fancy  I  did  n't  tell  you  at  the 
time  that  it  was  the  first  call  I  'd  ever  made  on 
a  young  woman  in  my  life."  He  laughed  again 
with  tolerant  amusement.  "  I  was  thirty-three 
years  old  then,  too." 

The  girl  drew  a  thread  of  green  from  a  bundle 
of  silk  in  her  lap  deliberately.  "  No;  you  never 
told  me  that,"  she  corroborated. 

The  wrinkles  gathering  about  Darley  Roberts' 
eyes  suddenly  deepened,  infallible  precursor  of 
the  unexpected. 

"  By  the  way,"  he  digressed,  "  I  'm  growing 
curious  to  know  what  you  do  with  those  things 
you  're  embroidering,  those  - 

"Lunch  cloths?" 

'  That 's  it,  lunch  cloths.  The  present  makes 
seven,  one  after  the  other,  you  've  completed. 
I  Ve  kept  count." 

"  Curious,  you  say?  "  The  girl  laughed  softly. 
"  And  still  you  Ve  never  asked." 

"  No.  I  fancied  there  'd  ultimately  be  an  end, 
a  variation  at  least;  but  it  seems  I  was  mis 
taken.  Do  you  expect  to  keep  them,  as  a  man 
does  a  case  of  razors,  one  for  each  day  of  the 
week?" 

Agrun  the  soft  little  amused  laugh. 

[  167] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  Hardly.  I  sell  them.  There  are  five  more 
in  prospect  —  an  even  dozen." 

"  Oh.    I  wondered." 

Another  void;    an  equally  abrupt  return. 

'  To  come  back  to  the  date,"  recalled  the  man, 
"  I  remembered  it  distinctly  this  morning  when 
I  tore  the  top  leaf  off  the  desk-pad.  It  stood 
out  as  though  it  were  printed  in  red  ink,  like 
the  date  of  a  holiday.  I  —  do  I  show  signs  of 
becoming  senile  —  childish,  Elice?" 

"  Not  that  I  've  noticed.    You  seem  normal." 

"  Nor  irresponsible  —  moonstruck  —  nothing 
of  that  kind?" 

"  No." 

"  I  'm  glad  to  hear  it.  I  did  n't  know.  .  .  . 
Somehow  this  morning  the  sight  of  that  date 
made  me  do  a  thing  I  have  n't  done  since  —  I 
don't  know  when.  I  had  a  consuming  desire  to 
celebrate." 

The  girl's  head  was  bent  low,  the  better  to 
see  her  work. 

"Yes?"  she  said. 

Again  the  man  stroked  his  chin,  with  the 
former  movement  of  whimsical  deliberation. 

"  Do  you  know  what  people  down  town,  people 
I  do  business  with,  call  me,  Elice?"  he  asked. 

"  No." 

[  168] 


Anticipation 

"Never  heard  of  'old  man'  Roberts?" 

"  No,"  again. 

;'  Well,  that 's  me  —  old  man  Roberts  —  old 
man  —  thirty-four.  .  .  .  By  the  way,  what  do 
you  call  me,  Elice?" 

"Mr.  Roberts,"  steadily. 

"  Not  Darley;  not  once  in  all  this  last  year?  " 

No  answer. 

"  Not  Darley  —  even  once?  " 

"  I  think  not." 

The  eyes  of  the  man  smiled,  the  eyes  only. 

'  To  return  again,  old  man  Roberts  had  a 
desire  to  celebrate.  The  date  was  on  his  brain. 
He  did  n't  even  take  off  his  coat  after  he  'd  seen 
it  —  normally  the  old  man  works  in  his  shirt 
sleeves,  you  know  —  he  just  walked  back  from 
his  private  room  into  the  general  office.  '  To 
day  's  a  holiday,'  he  said. 

'  They  stared,  the  office  force  —  there  are 
seven  of  them.  They  didn't  say  a  word;  they 
just  stared. 

'I  say  to-day  's  a  holiday,'  the  old  man  re- 
repeated,  '  shut  up  shop.' ' 

There  was  a  silence.  In  it  Miss  Gleason 
glanced  up  —  into  two  eyes  smiling  out  of  a 
blank  face.  Her  own  dropped.  Simultane 
ously,  also,  her  ears  tinged  scarlet. 

[  1691 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Darley  Roberts  laughed  a  low  tolerant  laugh 
at  his  own  expense. 

"  Still  think  I  was  n't  irresponsible  —  moon 
struck —  nothing  of  the  kind?" 

"  No  —  Mr.  Roberts." 

'  Wait.  After  the  force  had  gone,  still  star 
ing,  the  old  man  went  back  to  his  desk.  He 
looked  up  a  number  in  the  telephone  directory. 
'Mr.  Herbert?  Roberts,  Darley  Roberts. - 
I  'd  like  to  see  you  personally.  Yes,  at  once. 
I  'm  waiting.' ' 

Again  the  girl  glanced  up;  something  made 
her.  And  again  she  encountered  those  same 
eyes  smiling  out  of  a  masked  face. 

'  The  old  man  waited ;  ten  minutes  maybe. 
He  didn't  do  a  thing;  just  waited.  Then 
events  came  to  pass."  Once  more  the  little 
throaty  laugh.  '  Mr.  Herbert,'  he  said,  '  your 
house  you  advertise  for  sale.  How  much  this 
morning? ' 

"  Mr.  Herbert  seemed  surprised,  distinctly 
surprised.  He  was  only  half  through  the  door 
at  the  time. 

'  Eighteen  thousand  dollars.    It  cost  twenty,' 
-  after  he  's  caught  his  breath. 

'  It  cost  you  fifteen  even.    I  Ve  been  to  some 
trouble  to  find  out.' 

[  170] 


Anticipation 

'You  can't  know  the  place,  Mr.  —  Mr. 
Roberts.' 

"  '  Yes.  Top  of  the  hill.  Faces  east  and  north. 
Terra  cotta,  brick.  For  reasons  you  know  best 
it 's  been  vacant  for  a  month  now.' 

'  You  can't  know  the  inside,  I  mean.  It 's 
finished  in  solid  hardwood,  every  inch.' 

*  Yes,  I  Ve  seen  it ;  oak  in  front,  mahogany  in 
the  dining-room,  rosewood  in  the  den.  I  Ve  seen  it.' 

'  When?  I  Ve  lived  there  nine  years  until 
just  lately.  Not  in  that  time.' 

'  Yes,  during  that  time.  I  was  at  a  party 
there  once,  —  a  university  party  which  Mrs. 
Herbert  gave.' 

"  '  All  right.     Maybe  you  know.' 

'  Unquestionably.  I  repeat  the  place  cost 
you  fifteen  thousand.' 

'  The  price  now  is  eighteen.' 
"  '  You  don't  wish  to  sell  —  at  fifteen? ' 
"  '  No.' 
"  '  That 's  all,  then.' 

'  Roberts  —  confound  it  - 

'  I  'm  sorry  to  have  bothered  you.  I  thought 
you  wished  to  sell.' 

'  I  Ve  got  to,  but  I  don't  have  to  give  it 
away.' 

'I  repeat  I  'm  sorry  to  have  bothered  you/ 

[  171  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

*  I  '11  see  you  again ;   to-morrow  perhaps  — ' 
'  I  shall  be  very  busy  to-morrow.    To-day  's 

a  holiday.' 

*  A  holiday !     Anyway   I   have  n't  the   ab 
stract.' 

'  Unnecessary.  I  said  I  knew  all  about  the 
place.  I  see  the  deed  there  in  your  pocket. 
You  anticipated,  I  see.' 

'  Well,  of  all  the  inexplicable  hurry ! ' 

*  Shall   I   write   you   a   check   for  —  fifteen 
thousand? '  " 

Darley  Roberts  halted.  For  the  third  time 
he  laughed. 

'  You  gather,  perhaps,"  he  said,  "  that  I 
bought  a  house  this  morning.  Afterward  I 
bought  a  few  other  things  —  just  a  few.  After 
that  I  moved  in ;  into  two  rooms.  I  've  had 
rather  a  busy  day,  all  told,  celebrating  —  cele 
brating  December  the  sixth.  .  .  .  How  about 
it,  Elice,  now  that  I  Ve  elaborated.  Any  signs 
of  senility,  irresponsibility,  yet? " 

"  No,"  very  steadily.  "  It  seems  perfectly 
natural  to  me  for  a  man  to  want  a  house." 

"  Perhaps  you  're  right.  Yes ;  I  do  want  a 
house,  no  doubt  about  it;  particularly  that 
house.  I  've  been  intending  to  own  it  sometime 
for  quite  a  spell  —  for  some  eight  years  now; 

[  m] 


Anticipation 

to  be  exact,  since  the  time  I  saw  it  before.  .  .  . 
You  know  the  place,  don't  you?" 

"  Yes,  very  well." 

"  I  fancied  so.  ...  By  the  way,  do  you  re 
call  that  —  occasion  I  referred  to?" 

"  Indistinctly." 

"  I  fancied  that  too.  .  .  .  You  don't  remem 
ber  by  any  chance  what  a  lion  I  was  that 
night?" 

"  No,  Mr.  Roberts." 

"Not  'no,  Barley'?" 

"  No." 

"  Not  even  yet ;  and  it 's  been  a  year !  .  .  . 
As  I  was  about  to  say,  though,  I  recall  dis 
tinctly.  I  remember  I  had  a  perfectly  delight 
ful  time  —  listening  to  the  others'  conversation. 
Likewise  dancing  —  with  myself  in  a  shadowy 
corner.  Also  eating  lunch  —  with  myself  later. 
I  had  ample  time  to  think  —  and  I  decided  event 
ually  that  there  'd  been  a  slight  mistake  some 
how  when  my  name  got  on  the  list.  ...  I  liked 
the  house,  though,  very  much;  so  much  that  I 
decided  to  buy  it  sometime  —  at  a  nominal  fig 
ure.  I  did  n't  feel  peculiarly  generous  that  night 
when  I  made  the  decision.  .  .  .  Last  of  all,  I 
recall  I  met  a  girl;  rather  young  then,  but 
rather  pleasant  also,  I  thought.  She  talked  to 

[  173  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

me  for  an  entire  minute.  I  know  because  I  held 
my  breath  the  while,  and  that 's  my  limit.  She 
was  the  only  one  who  apparently  did  see  me 
that  night,  though.  Perhaps  her  being  rather 
young  was  why." 

The  voice  ceased.  The  speaker  looked  at  the 
listener.  Simultaneously  the  listener  looked  at 
the  speaker.  They  smiled,  companionably,  un- 
derstandingly. 

'  That 's  all,  I  believe,  I  have  to  impart  con 
cerning  December  the  sixth,  all  concerning  the 
celebration.  That  is  -  "  of  a  sudden  the  banter 
ing  voice  was  serious  and  low  -  "  that  is,  unless 
there  's  something  more  you  'd  like  to  know." 

The  girl  was  busy  with  the  clover  again,  very 
busy. 

:'  I  think  you  Ve  told  me  all  there  is  to  tell," 
she  said  steadily.  "  I  understand." 

Darley  Roberts  waited;   but  that  was  all. 

'  Very  well."  The  voice  was  normal  again, 
tolerant,  non-committal.  "  It 's  your  turn,  then. 
I  fear  I  'm  becoming  positively  loquacious.  I 
monopolize  the  conversation.  Let 's  hear  your 
report  since  -  -  Thanksgiving,  I  believe,  —  the 
last  time  I  heard  it." 

For  some  reason  the  girl  lost  interest  in  her 
work.  At  least  there  seemed  less  need  of  im- 

[  m] 


Anticipation 

mediate  haste.    She  rolled  the  silks  and  the  linen 
together  with  a  little  unconscious  sigh  of  relief. 

"  Since  Thanksgiving,"  she  said,  "  I  've  cooked 
eighteen  meals  for  father  and  myself.  I  Ve  been 
out  of  town  once,  coached  two  thick  heads  twice 
each,  attended  one  bridge  party  —  or  was  it  five 
hundred?  I  believe  that 's  all." 

"Not  had  a  call  from  Miss  Simpson?"  smil 
ingly. 

"  How  did  you  know?  " 

"  I  don't  know.    I  asked  you." 

'Yes;   Agnes  called  —  of  course." 

'  What  report  of  your  friends  the  Randalls, 
then? " 

"  Shame  on  you  —  really." 

"  No.  I  did  n't  mean  it  that  way  —  really. 
You  know  it.  I  'm  interested  because  you  are. 
How  are  things  coming  on  with  them? " 

The  girl  fingered  the  roll  in  her  lap  absently. 
"  Badly,  I  'm  afraid.  Margery  's  gone  to  Chi 
cago  to  visit  her  cousin,  and  shop.  She  can't 
seem  to  realize  —  or  won't.  I  went  over  and 
baked  some  things  for  Harry  yesterday.  He  's 
dismissed  the  maid  they  had  and  the  place  looks 
as  cheerful  as  a  barn.  I  did  n't  even  see  him." 
'  You  noticed  the  house,  though,  doubtless. 
Much  new  furniture  about?" 

[175] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

'Yes,  for  the  dining-room;  a  complete  new 
suite,  sideboard  and  all,  in  weathered  oak.  It 's 
dear.  .  .  .  How  in  the  world  did  you  know, 
though?" 

"  A  big  rug,  too,  and  curtains,  and  —  a  lot 
of  things? " 

"  How  did  you  know,  you?     Tell  me  that." 

'  Would  you  say  it  was  worth  four  hundred 
dollars  in  all,  what  you  saw? "  The  eyes  were 
smiling  again. 

"  Perhaps.  I  don't  know.  I  have  never 
bought  such  things.  .  .  .  You  have  n't  answered 
my  question  yet." 

"  I  know  because  Mr.  Randall  told  me.  He 
also  requested  me,  as  a  favor,  to  ask  you  about 
them  instead  of  going  to  the  house  myself." 

'  Which  means  you  made  him  a  loan  to  pay 
the  bill.  Are  you  a  friend  of  Harry's?" 

"  A  loan,  yes.  A  friend  —  only  as  your  friends 
are  mine." 

"  It 's  too  bad,  a  burning  shame  —  when 
Harry  works  so  hard,  too."  The  girl  winked 
fast,  against  her  will.  "  I  can't  quite  forgive 
Margery." 

"  For  going  to  Chicago?  " 

"  For  everything.     For  that  too." 

"Not  if  I  told  you  I  advised  her  to  go?" 

[  176  ] 


Anticipation 

"You!"  In  astonishment  complete  the  girl 
stared.  'You  advised  her  to  go?" 

"  Yes,  the  same  day  I  made  Randall  the  loan. 
It  was  really  a  coincidence.  I  wondered  they 
did  n't  meet  in  the  elevator." 

"  A  lawyer  in  a  little  town  like  this,  with 
several  departments  in  his  business,  comes  in 
contact  with  a  variety  of  things,"  he  commented 
after  a  moment. 

"  Tell  me  about  Margery."  The  girl  seemed 
to  have  heard  that  suggestion  only.  "  I  can't 
understand,  can't  believe  —  really." 

For  a  moment  Roberts  was  silent.  There 
was  no  banter  in  his  manner  when  he  looked 
up  at  last. 

"  I  did  n't  tell  you  this  merely  to  gossip,"  he 
said  slowly ;  "  I  think  you  appreciate  that  with 
out  my  saying  it;  but  somehow  I  felt  that  you 
ought  to  know  —  that  if  any  one  could  do  any 
good  there  it  is  you.  I  never  met  either  of 
them  before,  that 's  another  coincidence ;  but 
from  what  you  Ve  told  me  and  the  little  I 
saw  of  them  both  that  day,  I  felt  dead 
sorry.  Besides,  life 's  so  short,  and  I  hate  — 
divorce." 

"  You  can't  mean  it  has  come  to  that? " 

"  It  had  n't  come,   but  it  was   coming  fast. 

12  [  177  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

She  visited  me  first.  From  there  she  was  going 
straight  to  her  father  —  to  stay." 

"  It 's  horrible,  simply  horrible  —  and  so  un 
justified!  You  induced  her,  though,  to  go  to 
Chicago  instead? " 

"  It  was  a  compromise,  a  play  for  time.  I 
tried  to  get  her  to  go  back  home,  but  she  refused, 
positively.  The  only  alternative  seemed  to  be  to 
get  her  away  —  quick.  .  .  .  Was  I  right?" 

'  Yes,  I  think  so,  under  the  circumstances. 
But  the  trouble  itself,  I  can't  understand  yet — • 
Was  it  that  abominable  furniture? " 

"  Partly.  At  least  that  was  the  final  straw,  the 
match  to  the  fuse.  The  whole  thing  had  been 
gathering  slowly  for  a  long  time.  I  did  n't  get 
the  entire  story,  of  course.  She  was  n't  exactly 
coherent.  It  seems  she  ordered  it  on  her  own  re 
sponsibility,  and  when  the  goods  were  delivered 
-  the  thing  was  merely  inevitable,  some  time  — 
that  was  all." 

"Inevitable?  No.  It  was  abominable  of 
Margery  —  unforgivable." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that;  in  fact  I  'm  in 
clined  to  differ.  I  still  maintain  it  was  inevitable." 

"Inevitable  fiddlesticks!  Harry  is  the  best- 
natured  man  alive,  and  generous.  He  's  been  too 
generous,  too  easy;  that 's  the  trouble." 


Anticipation 

"'Generous?'"  gently.  "'Generous?'  .  .  . 
Is  it  generous  for  a  man  with  nothing  and  no 
prospect  of  anything  to  take  a  girl  out  of  a 
home  where  money  was  never  a  consideration, 
and  transplant  her  into  another  where  practic 
ally  it  is  the  only  thought?  .  .  .  'Generous' 
for  his  own  pleasure,  to  undertake  to  teach  her 
a  financial  lesson  he  knew  to  a  moral  certainty 
in  advance  she  could  never  learn?  Do  you  hon 
estly  call  that  '  generous  '  ?  " 

"  But  she  could  learn.    It  —  was  her  duty." 

"Duty!"  Roberts  laughed  tolerantly.  "Is 
'  uuty  '  in  the  dictionary  you  use  a  synonyme  for 
'  cooking  '  and  '  scrubbing  '  and  '  drudgery  '  ?  Is 
that  your  interpretation? " 

"  Sometimes  —  in  this  case,  yes;  for  a  time." 

"  Permanently,  you  mean?  " 

"  No ;  for  a  time  —  until  Harry  got  on  his 
feet." 

"  He  '11  never  get  on  his  feet  unaided.  Instead 
he  '11  get  more  and  more  wobbly  all  the  time. 
The  past  proves  the  future.  He  's  proved  it." 

"  You  're  simply  horrid."  There  were  real 
tears  in  the  girl's  eyes  now,  not  a  mere  premoni 
tion.  "  I  'm  sorry  I  ever  told  you  anything  about 
them." 

"  I  know  I  'm  horrid,  grant  it.  A  friend  I 
[  179  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

once  had  told  me  I  was  a  fish,  —  cold-blooded 
like  one.  Nature  made  me  that  way,  you  see, 
so  I  can't  help  it.  And  still  I  'm  inclined  to  be 
lieve  if  Mrs.  Randall  had  chanced  to  select  any 
other  lawyer  in  town  there  'd  be  a  real  separation, 
instead  of  one  in  prospect,  right  now." 

Elice  Gleason  looked  up  penitently. 

"  I  'm  sorry,"  she  said  simply.  "  I  did  n't 
mean  that." 

"  I  don't  doubt  it,"  equally  simply. 

'  You  're  so  blunt  and  logical  though ;  so  — 
abstract." 

'  Yes;  I  am  that  way." 

The  girl  drew  a  long  breath.  Seemingly,  after 
all,  the  victory  was  hers. 

'  Well,  what  are  we  going  to  do  about  it?  We, 
their  friends,  have  to  do  something." 

'  Yes,  that 's  the  question  —  what?  " 

"  Margery  will  never  go  back  now  of  herself. 
I  know  her." 

"  No;  she  '11  never  go  back  of  herself,  never. 
Do  you  blame  her?  " 

No  answer.    The  query  was  sudden. 

"  Honest,  do  you  blame  her?  "  insistently. 

"I  thought  I  did.  I  don't  know  — I  don't 
know." 

"  Does  *  love,  honor,  and  obey '  mean  '  wash, 

[  180  ] 


Anticipation 

bake,  and  scrub  '  to  a  girl  who  has  never  in  her 
life  before  done  any  of  the  three?" 

Still  silence. 

;'  Would  you,  if  you  were  in  her  place,  come 
back  —  would  you?  " 

"  I?  "  It  was  almost  a  gasp.  "  I  'm  not  like 
Margery.  I  Ve  counted  pennies  all  my  life."  A 
sudden  flame.  "  But  why  do  you  bring  me  in? " 

"Why?  That's  true.  I  had  no  right.  I 
apologize.  To  come  back  to  Mrs.  Randall. "  Do 
you  still  blame  her?  " 

"  No,  I  don't  believe  I  do.  I  ought  to,  I  feel 
that;  but  I  don't.  It 's  tangled,  tangled !" 

'  Yes.     It 's  the  first  symptom  of  divorce." 

The  girl  flashed  him  a  sudden  look. 

"  And  you  hate  divorce.    You  just  said  so." 

"  From  the  bottom  of  my  soul.    I  meant  it." 

Miss  Gleason  flashed  a  second  look.  Sur- 
denly,  unaccountably,  she  held  the  reins. 

'  What 's  to  be  done  then?  Margery  is  as  she 
is,  we  both  know  that ;  and  —  and  Harry  loves 
her,  we  both  know  that,  too.  What  do  you 
suggest?  " 

"  I  ?  "  Roberts  smiled,  his  slow  smile.  "  I  'm 
her  lawyer  and  —  abstract.  Besides,  her  father 
is  wealthy.  There  'd  be  a  fat  fee  if  she  returned 
to  him." 

[181] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

'  You  forget  that  I  apologized." 

'  That 's  right.  I  'm  always  forgetting."  Ap 
parently  he  did  not  remember  even  yet. 

'  You  've  neglected  to  answer  my  question," 
impatiently.  "  I  repeat:  what  are  you  going  to 
do  about  it? " 

"  I  asked  your  solution  first.  Do  you  give  it 
up?" 

'  Yes,"  with  a  little  gesture;   "  I  give  it  up." 

Darley  Roberts  smiled;  a  contagious,  con 
vincing  smile. 

"  Very  well,  I  '11  try  then,"  he  said.  "  I  shan't 
promise  anything.  I  '11  simply  try." 

"Try  how?" 

Again  Roberts  smiled;  but  through  whimsi 
cally  narrowed  lids  now. 

"  I  'm  not  sure  of  the  details  yet  myself.  I 
merely  have  an  idea.  There  's  an  old  adage  con 
cerning  Mahomet  and  the  mountain,  you  know." 

"  And  in  this  case  Margery  represents  the 
mountain? " 

"  Yes." 

Unconsciously  the  girl's  color  heightened. 

'  You  really  fancy,"  swiftly,  "  that  Harry  can 
be  stirred  up  enough,  can  be  made  practical 
enough  —  you  forget  you  said  a  moment  ago 
that  he  would  never  advance  financially." 

[  182] 


Anticipation 

"  No.  The  adage  will  have  to  be  adjusted 
a  bit  to  meet  the  requirements.  He  '11  have  to 
be  carried  there." 

Elice  Gleason  drew  a  quick  little  breath  of 
understanding  and  something  more. 

"If  you  '11  do  this  for  one  almost  a  stranger, 
one  wonders  what  you  would  do  for  a  friend," 
she  said;  "one  —  wonders." 

For  an  instant  the  man  said  nothing ;  abruptly, 
dismissing  the  subject,  he  arose. 

'  There  's  just  one  other  thing  that  I  meant 
to  tell  you,"  he  said;  "something  that  perhaps 
you  know  already.  I  'm  pretty  busy  and  I 
don't  always  find  time  to  read  the  local  news. 
So  it 's  not  unusual  that  I  did  n't  know  before. 
Steve  Armstrong  is  back." 

Quietly  the  girl  arose  also,  stood  so  very  still. 

'  Yes,"  she  said.  "  He  's  been  back  a  week. 
He  's  working  in  the  big  drug-store  on  the  cor 
ner,  Shaw's  place,  in  the  laboratory." 

'  That 's  all,  then.  I  thought  perhaps  you 
did  n't  know." 

For  an  instant  the  girl  was  silent;  she  looked 
her  companion  full  in  the  face. 

"  He  called  the  afternoon  he  came.  He  was 
almost  —  pitiable.  Father  came  home  finally." 

"Elice!" 

[  183  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Their  eyes  held.  Not  three  feet  separate  they 
stood  there;  but  neither  stirred. 

"Mr.  Roberts." 

In  silence  the  man  put  on  top-coat  and  gloves ; 
not  hastily,  nor  yet  lingeringly.  Equally  natu 
rally  he  picked  up  his  hat. 

"  December  the  sixth,"  he  said.  "  One  whole 
year.  To-morrow  will  be  the  seventh  —  and 
business  —  battle,  again."  For  the  first  time 
he  dallied,  the  big  soft  felt  hat  turning  absently 
in  his  hand.  "  Somehow  I  'd  hoped  a  lot  for  the 
sixth,  planned  a  lot  —  and  now  it 's  past."  His 
eyes  shifted,  fastened  elsewhere  compellingly. 

"It  is  all  past,  all  over,  gone  into  history, 
isn't  it,  Elice?" 

"  Yes,  it 's  past,  Mr.  Roberts." 

"  Not  even  '  past,  Darley,'  not  even  that  — 

yet?" 

The  brown  eyes  dropped.     They  had  fought 
their  fight  and  won  —  for  December  the  sixth. 
"  No.    Not  even  that  —  yet,"  she  said. 


[184] 


CHAPTER    II 

ACQUAINTANCE 

AT  the  corner  next  beyond  the  Gleason  home 
Darley  Roberts  caught  the  nine  o'clock 
car,  and  remained  on  it  until  the  end  of  the 
division,  practically  the  extreme  opposite  edge 
of*  the  town,  was  reached.  He  was  the  last 
passenger  to  leave,  and  as  the  motorman  was 
reversing  the  trolley  he  paused  a  moment  in  the 
vestibule. 

"  Normal  load  was  it,  Johnson? "  he  asked 
the  conductor.  '  You  rang  up  twenty-four 
fares,  I  noticed." 

The  man  looked  consciously  surprised  to  be 
called  by  name. 

'  Yes,  Mr.  Roberts,"  he  said;  "  we  carry  any 
where  between  twenty  and  thirty  at  this  time 
of  night." 

"  How  about  the  next  trip,  nine-thirty?  " 

"  Better  yet  if  anything." 

"And  the  next,  the  last?" 

[  185  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  Best  of  all.  The  straps  are  nearly  always 
loaded." 

Roberts  buttoned  up  his  coat  deliberately. 

'  Think  it  would  pay  to  run  a  couple  of  hours 
longer? "  he  asked,  and  this  time  the  conductor 
all  but  flushed  at  the  unexpected  confidence. 

'  Yes ;  I  'm  sure  it  would,  Mr.  Roberts ; 
especially  when  the  school 's  in  session.  The 
boys  would  ride  half  the  night  if  they  could." 

'  There  seems  to  be  a  good  deal  in  that.  By 
the  way,  you  have  only  one  shift  on  this  car 
now,  I  understand." 

It  was  the  long-hoped-for  opportunity  and 
Johnson  grew  eloquent. 

"  Right  you  are,  and  it 's  the  dog's  life  for 
us  men.  I  Ve  had  only  one  hot  meal  a  day 
since  I  took  the  job."  He  searched  the  impas 
sive  face  before  him  with  a  glance.  "  If  the 
schedule  was  stretched  a  little,  now,  at  either 
end  and  a  second  shift  added - 

'  That 's  a  good  idea.  I  'm  glad  it  occurred 
to  you.  Better  speak  to  the  superintendent 
about  it  yourself;  he  '11  see  the  point."  Roberts 
alighted  deliberately.  "  Any  suggestion  you 
men  in  the  service  make  is  valuable."  As  he 
vanished  up  the  street  toward  his  destination, 
in  the  fulness  of  knowledge  that  the  contem- 

[  186] 


Acquaintance 

plated  suggestion  had  been  decided  from  the 
turning  of  the  first  wheel  on  the  system,  he  left 
behind  him  a  man  imbued  with  an  esprit  de  corps 
that  was  to  grow  and  leaven  the  entire  working 
force.  It  took  but  a  minute  all  told! 

Five  minutes  later,  in  the  half  dark  doorway 
of  a  cottage  on  a  side  street,  he  was  face  to 
face  with  Harry  Randall. 

"  Pardon  me  if  I  intrude,"  he  was  saying, 
"  but  I  'm  going  out  of  town  to-morrow  and  I 
wish  to  talk  with  you  a  bit  before  I  go.  Can 
you  spare  me  a  little  time?" 

"  Certainly."  Randall's  manner  was  decidedly 
stiff.  Nevertheless  he  led  the  way  through  the 
vestibule  and  living-room  to  the  dining-room  be 
yond.  There  he  halted  significantly.  "  By  the 
way,"  he  began,  "  the  furniture  I  mentioned  - 

"Damn  the  furniture!"  Roberts  met  his 
host's  look  steadily.  'You  know  me  better 
than  that,  by  reputation  if  nothing  more.  I 
said  I  wished  to  talk  with  you.  May  I?" 

Randall  colored,  and  the  stiffness  vanished  as 
by  a  miracle. 

"  Pardon  me,"  he  said.  "  I  Ve  got  a  sort  of 
den  upstairs  where  I  do  my  work."  Again  he 
led  the  way.  "  My  wife  's  out  of  town,  though, 
now,  and  things  are  a  bit  mussy." 

[  187] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Roberts  made  no  comment,  and  they  mounted 
the  stairs  in  silence. 

Inside  the  room  the  visitor  swept  the  place 
with  a  single  all-including  glance.  Thereafter, 
apparently,  he  observed  nothing. 

"  First  of  all,  then,"  he  initiated  bluntly,  "  do 
I  intrude?  If  so,  I  can  tell  my  business  in  five 
minutes;  if  not,  we  might  possibly  become 
acquainted." 

Again  Randall  colored;  then  he  smiled,  his 
saving  quality. 

"  Not  in  the  least.  It 's  Friday  night,  you 
know.  In  addition  I  was  a  bit  lonely.  I  'm 
distinctly  glad  to  see  you." 

'  Which,  interpreted,  means  glad  to  see  any 
one." 

'  Yes,  I  suppose  so." 

For  an  instant  the  old  odd  smile  shone  in 
Roberts'  eyes,  then  it  disappeared,  leaving  them 
normal,  inscrutable. 

'  To  begin  with,  then,  I  came  primarily  to 
talk  about  Steve  Armstrong.  I  believe  he  's  a 
friend  of  yours." 

4  Yes."  A  halt,  then  the  query  direct  re 
turned.  "Is  he  of  yours?" 

"  I  '11  answer  that  question  later,  if  you  please. 
At  least  he  's  the  one  adult  to  date  I  can  re- 

[  188] 


Acquaintance 

member  who  ever  called  me  by  my  first  name. 
Did  you  know  that  he  'd  returned  to  town? " 

'  Yes.     He  was  here  last  night." 

"Responsible,  was  he?" 

"Mr.  Roberts!"  Randall  flushed  like  a 
woman  with  strangers.  "  Pardon  me,  but  there 
are  some  questions  I  can't  answer  —  at  least 
until  you  answer  my  own  of  a  moment 
ago." 

"  I  understand  perfectly.  Also,  contrary  to 
your  suspicion,  I  did  n't  avoid  your  question 
to  make  it  difficult  for  you.  It  requires  two  to 
be  friends.  Enmities  I,  personally,  have  none. 
Life  's  too  short  and  too  busy.  If  it  will  as 
sist  you  any,  I  met  Armstrong  in  the  street  this 
evening  face  to  face,  and  he  declined  to  speak. 
I  judge  he  's  no  friend  to  me.  Am  I  any  more 
clear? " 

"  Yes,"  simply. 

"Do  you  wish  to  answer  my  question  now, 
then?" 

"  I  judge  you  have  a  good  reason  for  ask 
ing.  He  was  not  responsible,  wholly." 

"Not  even  decently  so?" 

"  Hardly." 

"  I  gathered  as  much  from  his  appearance 
to-night.  It  was  the  first  time  I  'd  seen  him 

[  189  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

in  nearly  a  year.  You  know  the  whole  story 
between  Armstrong  and  myself,  I  take  it? " 

'  Yes,"  once  more. 

"  And  your  sympathy  is  naturally  with  him." 

"  It  has  been." 

"And  now- 

The  smile  that  made  Randall's  face  boyish 
came  into  being. 

;'  I  'm  deferring  judgment  now  —  and  observ- 
ing." 

"  I  fear  I  can't  help  you  much  there,"  said 
Darley,  shortly.  "  I  wished  to  discuss  the  future 
a  bit,  not  the  past.  The  last  time  I  talked  with 
Armstrong  he  wras  impossible.  I  think  you 
know  what  I  mean.  All  men  are  that  way  when 
they  lose  their  nerve  and  drown  the  corpse. 
What  I  wish  to  ask  of  you  is  whether  the  thing 
was  justified.  I  'm  not  artistic.  I  don't  brag 
of  it  —  I  admit  it.  You  're  different;  your  opin 
ion  is  of  value.  Commercially,  he  's  an  impos 
sibility.  He  could  n't  hold  a  place  if  he  had  it 
-  any  place.  I  don't  need  to  tell  you  that 
either.  As  a  writer  —  can  he  write,  or  can't 
he?" 

Harry  Randall  took  off  his  big  eyeglasses 
and  polished  one  lens  and  then  the  other. 

"  In  my  opinion,  yes  —  and  no."    He  held  the 

[  190  1 


Acquaintance 

glasses  to  the  light,  seemed  satisfied,  and  placed 
them  carefully  on  his  nose.  "  A  great  writer  - 
he  '11  never  be  that.  It  takes  nerve  and  infinite 
patience  to  be  anything  great,  and  Steve  invari 
ably  loses  his  nerve  too  soon.  He  lacks  just 
that  much  of  being  big.  As  for  ability,  the 
spark  —  he 's  got  it,  Roberts,  as  certainly  as 
you  and  I  are  sitting  here.  Elementally,  he  's  a 
child  and  will  always  remain  a  child.  I  think 
most  artists  are  more  or  less  so.  Children  can't 
bear  criticism  or  delay — uncertain  delay — that 's 
Steve.  On  the  other  hand,  if  he  were  encour 
aged,  kept  free  on  the  financial  side,  left  at  lib 
erty  to  work  when  he  felt  the  mood,  and  then 
only,  then  -  -  I  realize  it 's  a  big  '  if '  and  a  big 
contract  for  some  one  —  he  'd  make  good.  Have 
I  answered  your  question?" 

'Yes.      And    here's    another:    Is    it    worth 
while?" 

'  To  bolster  him,  you  mean;  to  '  pull  him  out 
of  the  mud,'  to  use  his  own  phrase?" 

"No;  that  would  be  a  waste  of  energy.  I 
mean  to  keep  him  out  permanently,  to  continue 
pulling  indefinitely." 

For  a  long  time  the  two  men  sat  in  silence. 

"  God  knows,"  said  Randall  at  last.  "  I  Ve 
asked  myself  the  same  question  for  years  —  and 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

could  n't  answer  it.    It 's  as  big  as  the  universe. 
Steve  is  simply  an  atom.     It 's  unanswerable." 

In  the  pause  following  Roberts  lit  one  of  the 
seemingly  inexhaustible  black  cigars,  after  prof 
fering  its  mate.  Again  the  two  sat  there,  the 
blue  haze  of  mutual  understanding  gathering 
between  them. 

''  I  say  it 's  unanswerable,"  repeated  Randall. 
"  It 's  the  old  problem  of  the  young  supporting 
the  uselessly  old,  the  well  serving  the  incurably 
diseased.  It  means  eternal  vigilance  from  some 
one,  eternal  sacrifice.  It 's  insoluble,  neither 
more  nor  less." 

"  Yes,"  said  Roberts.     "  I  Ve  found  it  so  - 
insoluble.    Particularly  so  in  this  case." 

Slowly  Randall's  glance  lifted,  met  the  other's 
eyes.  That  instant,  as  a  flame  is  born,  came 
full  understanding  between  them. 

'  Yes,  particularly  so  in  this  case,"  echoed 
Roberts;  "  for  it  means  a  woman's  sacrifice,  one 
particular  woman's  sacrifice.  Nothing  else  in 
the  world  will  do  —  nothing." 

It  was  the  beginning  of  personal  confidence, 
the  halting-point  for  conversation  between  these 
two.  Both  knew  it  and  neither  crossed  the  line. 
They  merely  waited  until  a  digression  should 
come  naturally.  Roberts  it  was  who  at  last  in- 

[  192] 


Acquaintance 

troduced  it,  and  in  a  manner  so  matter  of  fact 
that  the  other  was  all  but  deceived. 

"  Has  Armstrong  been  doing  anything  lately 
in  a  literary  way  —  anything,  I  mean,  that  justi 
fies  your  opinion?  "  he  asked  abruptly. 

"  No,  not  that  I  know  of;  absolutely  nothing." 

'  You  're  relying,  then,  on  past  impressions 
merely." 

'  Yes ;   specifically  the  last  novel  he  wrote,  - 
the  one  of  a  year  or  a  year  and  a  half  or  so 
ago." 

'  You  have  n't  by  any  chance  a  copy  of  the 
manuscript,  I  suppose?" 

"  No." 

'  You  could  doubtless  get  it,  however? " 

"  I  think  so  —  unless  some  time  he  became 
morbid  and  burned  it." 

"  He  has  n't  done  that ;  I  know  him.  He 
might  threaten ;  but  to  do  it  —  he  'd  as  prob 
ably  go  hungry.  Get  it  some  time,  will  you? " 

"  I  will  if  you  request.  You  don't  wish  it 
for  yourself,  do  you? " 

"  No,  not  for  myself.  Perhaps  not  at  all. 
I  Ve  not  decided  yet.  Anyway  get  it,  please, 
and  be  ready  if  I  should  ask."  He  flashed  a 
look  no  man  had  ever  questioned,  could  ques 
tion.  'You  don't  doubt  my  motive?" 

13  [  193  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  No.  The  manuscript  will  be  ready.  I  '11 
answer  for  that." 

No  further  question  of  interest  was  asked,  no 
additional  hint  of  purpose  proffered.  The  sub 
ject  merely  dropped,  as  in  the  beginning  it  had 
merely  begun.  In  some  ways  they  were  simi 
lar,  these  two  men  in  general  so  dissimilar. 

"  I  had  another  object  in  calling  to-night," 
said  Roberts,  and  again  the  announcement  was 
made  without  preface.  '  The  opportunity  to 
buy  a  house  presented  itself  to-day  and  I  ac 
cepted.  Perhaps  you  know  the  place,  —  J.  C. 
Herbert's,  on  top  of  the  hill." 

'  Yes."  Open  wonder  spoke  in  the  voice,  open 
mystification.  '  Yes,  I  know  it." 

'  It 's  been  vacant  for  some  time.  I  moved 
this  afternoon,  just  into  a  couple  of  rooms.  My 
boy  is  there  now  trying  to  warm  up  the  place; 
but  even  then  it  won't  be  particularly  inviting. 
Besides,  I  'm  out  of  town  quite  a  bit  and  in  the 
future  am  likely  to  be  called  away  still  more. 
It  occurred  to  me  that  if  I  could  find  some 
married  people  whom  I  trusted,  who  would  take 
a  personal  interest  in  it  and  make  it  a  home, 
it  would  be  pleasanter  for  me  than  being  tucked 
away  in  a  couple  of  rooms  alone  and  the  rest 
of  the  barn  empty." 

[  194  ] 


Acquaintance 

'Yes,"  repeated  Randall,  impersonally,  "I 
think  I  appreciate  your  point  of  view.  It 's  a 
little  cheerless  to  be  in  a  house  alone." 

"  I  would  n't  expect  to  interfere  with  them 
in  any  way,"  Roberts  drifted  on,  "  or  live  with 
them  —  nothing  of  the  kind.  As  I  said,  I  prob 
ably  should  n't  even  be  there  much ;  only  at 
night.  I  'd  expect  to  keep  it  up  —  coal  and 
light  and  that  sort  of  thing  —  just  the  same  as 
I  would  have  to  do  if  I  were  alone.  I  'd  natu 
rally  wish  to  help  furnish  it,  too;  the  things 
that  would  inevitably  fit  in  with  it  and  would  n't 
fit  'any  place  else.  But  the  main  thing  would 
be  to  have  somebody  about  to  make  my  own 
corner  livable,  to  sort  of  humanize  the  place. 
You  catch  my  idea? " 

'  Yes,   I   think  so."     Harry  Randall's  hand 
was    on    his    bald    spot,    caressing    it    absently. 
'  Yes,  I  think  so,"  he  repeated. 

"  It 's  a  big  place,  even  larger  than  I  remem 
bered,  when  I  went  through  it  to-day,"  went 
on  Roberts  again.  "  It  '11  take  considerable  help 
to  keep  it  up  and  some  one  will  have  to  be 
about  constantly  to  direct.  I  have  the  help  in 
mind  right  now,  competent  too  -  I  meet  a  lot 
of  people  in  various  ways  and  I  've  had  the  thing 
on  my  mind ;  but  the  supervision  —  it 's  simply 

\  195  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

out  of  the  question  with  me  at  the  present." 
He  faced  the  other,  looked  at  him  straight. 
'  Would  you  and  Mrs.  Randall  care  to  accept 
the  place  as  a  home  in  return  for  taking  the 
responsibility  of  up-keep  from  me? " 

In  the  pause  following  Harry  Randall's  face 
went  slowly  red.  Equally  directly  he  met  the 
other's  look. 

"  Pardon  me,  Mr.  Roberts,"  he  said,  "  but 
Mrs.  Randall  and  myself  are  not  exactly  objects 
of  charity  yet." 

Darley  Roberts'  expression  did  not  alter  by 
so  much  as  the  twitching  of  a  muscle. 

'  That  was  unjustified,  Mr.  Randall,"  he  said 
evenly,  "  and  you  know  it.  Let  me  explain  a 
bit  further.  I  happen  to  have  a  house,  but  no 
home.  By  the  same  chance  you  are  able  to  pro 
duce  the  reverse.  Just  why  should  it  be  an 
offence  upon  my  part  to  suggest  bringing  the 
two  together  —  for  the  mutual  benefit  of  us 
both? " 

"  Why?  Because  it 's  unequal,  it 's  patron 
age;  and  though  I  work  for  twelve  hundred 
dollars  a  year,  I  'm  still  American  born." 

"  Granted  —  the  latter  remark.  I  'm  also 
American  born,  in  the  remotest  corner  of  the 
most  God-forsaken  county  in-  I  won't  name 

[  196] 


Acquaintance 

the  State;  I  might  hurt  some  one's  feelings." 
Roberts'  big  ringers  were  twitching  in  a  way 
they  had  when  something  he  had  decided  to  do 
met  with  opposition.  "  Nevertheless  I  hope 
that  fact  does  n't  make  me  wholly  unreason 
able.  When  it  comes  to  patronage,  we  're  all 
patronized:  you  do  a  kindness  for  a  friend, 
without  remuneration,  and  he  accepts  it ;  that 's 
patronage.  The  University  gives  you  a  posi 
tion  as  professor,  out  of  a  dozen  applicants  who 
could  do  equally  well,  and  you  accept  gladly. 
That 's  favoritism,  another  word  for  patronage. 
A 'client  comes  to  me  and  pays  a  fee  for  doing 
a  certain  labor,  when  my  competitor  across  the 
street  would  perform  it  equally  capably,  and 
for  perhaps  a  smaller  fee.  That 's  patronage. 
You  patronize  your  tailor  when  you  order  a  suit 
of  clothes,  the  butcher  when  you  buy  a  beef 
steak.  It 's  the  basis  of  life,  elemental.  The 
very  air  you  breathe  is  patronage.  It  costs  you 
nothing,  and  you  give  nothing  adequate  in  re 
turn.  To  characterize  patronage  as  un-American, 
stultifying,  is  preposterous.  Even  if  it  were  true 
in  this  case,  you  'd  have  to  give  another  reason 
for  offence.  I  refuse  to  consider  it." 

'  Well,  unbusinesslike  then,  if  that  is  better." 
"Unbusinesslike?     Wait.     In  company  with 
[  197] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

three  other  men  I  'm  developing  a  silver  mine 
down  in  Arizona.  The  mining  claim  belongs 
to  a  fifth  man,  belongs  to  him  absolutely.  He 
knows  the  metal  is  there  as  well  as  we  do;  but 
it 's  down  under  the  ground,  locked  up  tight 
in  a  million  tons  of  rock.  As  it  is  now,  so  far 
as  he  's  concerned,  it  might  as  well  be  on  Mars. 
If  left  to  himself  alone  he  'd  live  and  die  and 
it  would  still  be  there.  He  has  n't  the  ability 
nor  the  means  to  make  it  of  use.  The  other 
three  men  and  myself  have.  We  can  develop 
it,  and  will;  to  our  own  purposes,  share  and 
share  alike.  According  to  your  notion  there  's 
patronage  somewhere ;  but  exactly  where  ?  Point 
me  the  offence? " 

Again  Harry  Randall  caressed  his  bald  crown. 
The  argument  was  convincing,  almost. 

'  The  cases  are  not  parallel,"  he  combated 
weakly,  "  not  even  similar." 

"And  why  not?"  shortly.  "  I  'm  no  longer 
a  young  man  particularly.  I  've  never  had  a 
place  that  I  could  call  home  in  my  life;  never 
for  a  day  that  I  can  remember.  I  want  one 
now,  fancy  I  see  the  possibility  of  making  one; 
a  place  where  I  can  keep  a  friend  now  and  then 
if  I  wish,  where  I  could  even  order  in  a  supper 
and  entertain  if  I  saw  fit.  I  chance  to  have  the 

[  198  1 


Acquaintance 

ability  to  pay  for  the  privilege,  and  am  willing 
to  pay.  That 's  my  affair.  You  chance  to  be 
able  to  make  that  home  possible  —  and  incident 
ally  enjoy  it  yourself.  It 's  like  the  silver  mine, 
-  mutual  benefit,  share  and  share  alike.  The 
cases  seem  to  me  parallel,  quite  parallel." 

Opposite  Harry  Randall  sat  very  still.  In 
absent  forgetfulness  he  polished  the  big  glasses 
the  second  time  and  sprung  them  back  carefully 
on  his  nose.  But  even  yet  he  did  not  answer, 
merely  sat  there  waiting;  awaiting  the  moment 
to  counter,  to  refute. 

'"Am  I  not  right?"  asked  Roberts,  bluntly. 
"Isn't  the  proposition  logical?" 

"  Logical,  yes.  The  logic  is  very  good." 
Randall  glanced  up  keenly.  The  moment  for 
which  he  had  been  waiting  had  come,  more 
quickly  than  he  had  expected.  "  So  good  in 
fact  that  I  see  but  one  fault." 

"And  that?" 

This  time  the  keen  eyes  smiled,  very  candidly. 

'  The  sole  fault,  so  far  as  I  can  see,  is  that 
you  don't  believe  in  it  yourself." 

For  the  space  wherein  one  could  count  ten 
slowly  the  two  men  looked  at  each  other ;  slowly, 
in  turn,  on  Roberts'  firm  fighter's  face  there 
formed  a  smile,  a  peculiar,  appreciative  smile. 

[  199  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  Granted,"  he  said.  "  I  admit  failure."  The 
smile  passed  like  a  dropped  curtain.  "  More 
over  be  assured  I  shall  not  dissimulate  again. 
As  a  friend,  or  whatever  you  wish,  however,  I 
advise  you  to  think  carefully  before  you  refuse 
an  offer  made  in  good  faith  and  to  your  own 
advantage." 

Listening,  Harry  Randall  straightened.  His 
lips  closed  tightly  for  a  second.  '  You  mean,  I 
presume,"  the  words  were  painfully  exact,  "  to 
remind  me  that  you  hold  my  note  for  four 
hundred  dollars,  and  to  imply  -  he  halted 
significantly. 

For  a  moment  the  other  man  said  nothing, 
the  face  of  him  told  nothing.  Then  deliberately, 
from  an  inner  pocket,  he  drew  out  a  leather 
wallet,  from  the  wallet  a  strip  of  paper,  and 
held  it  so  the  other  could  read.  Still  without 
a  word  he  tore  it  to  bits. 

'  The  devil  take  your  note!  "  he  observed,  suc 
cinctly  and  without  heat. 

"  Mr.  Roberts,  you  -  '  Randall's  face  was 
crimson,  "  you  - 

"Yes  — I--" 

"You  didn't  mean  —  that,  then,  really?" 

Roberts  said  nothing. 

"  I  'm  grateful  for  the  confidence,  believe  me. 

[  200  ] 


Acquaintance 

It 's  not  misplaced,  either.     Accept  my  assur 
ance  of  that  too." 

"  My  name  is  Roberts,  not  Shylock.  I  told 
you  before  I  am  American  born,  of  American 
parents." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  abjectly.  The  red  had 
left  Randall's  face  and  in  its  place,  as  on  a 
mirror,  was  forming  another  look,  of  compre 
hension  —  and  more.  '  Yet  you  —  advised ;  and 
if  not  that-  '  of  a  sudden  he  got  to  his  feet. 
Something  was  coming  he  knew  to  a  certainty 
—  something  unexpected,  vital  —  and  he  felt 
better  able  so  to  meet  it.  "  Just  what  did  you 
mean? " 

Roberts  was  studying  him  deliberately,  with 
the  peculiar  analytical  look  Armstrong  of  old 
had  known  so  well. 

'  You  can't  imagine  yet,"  he  queried,  "  not 
with  the  motive  you  fancied  eliminated? " 

'  You  wish  to  do  me  a  kindness,  a  disinter 
ested  kindness.  For  what  reason?  " 

"  Cut  out  my  motive,  providing  I  have  one, 
for  the  present.  It 's  immaterial." 

"  That   does  n't   help  —  I   can't   conceive  — 
On  a  sudden  came  a  flash  of  light  that  aug 
mented  to  a  blaze.     "  Can  it  concern  Margery 
and  me?    Is  that  it?  " 

I  201  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Roberts  did  not  look  up.      '  Yes,"  he  said. 
'  You  know,  then,"  tensely.     "  How  much?  " 
'  Everything."     Roberts  inspected  the  wall 
paper  opposite  as  though  interested.    "  If  you  '11 
permit  me  I  '11  help  you  to  avoid  an  action  for 
divorce."     A  pause.     "  One,  moreover,  I  can't 
help  but  feel  somewhat  justified." 

For  long,  very  long,  there  was  silence  abso 
lute.  Then,  adequate  time  having  passed,  appar 
ently  Roberts  lost  interest  in  the  wall  pattern. 

"  Sit  down,  please,"  he  suggested.  "  At  last 
it  seems  we  understand  each  other.  Let 's  talk 
things  over  a  bit." 


[  202 


CHAPTER    III 

FRIENDSHIP 

"  T  7ERY  well,  I  'm  listening." 

V  It  had  come  about,  that  return  of 
composure,  more  quickly  than  a  stranger  would 
have  thought  possible,  perhaps  more  quickly 
than  the  visitor  had  expected.  At  least  for  a 
moment  he  did  not  follow  the  obvious  lead. 

"  Particularly  I  'm  waiting  for  an  explana 
tion  of  that  word  '  justified '  you  used."  The 
voice  this  time  was  low.  '  You  recall  you  said 
'justifiable  action,'  do  you  not?" 

"  Somewhat  justifiable,  yes." 

Randall  looked  straight  before  him. 

"  Don't  you  agree  with  me? "  added  Roberts. 

"  Frankly,  no.  I  admit  I  'm  biassed,  however 
—  at  least  I  trust  I  'm  not  a  cad,  unable  to 
acknowledge  a  deficiency  when  shown." 

"Or  to  administer  the  remedy,  providing  that 
remedy  is  proved  innocuous?" 

"Yes;    I  trust  that  also." 

"  Very  well,  we  '11  return  to  '  justifiable  '  quali- 
[  203  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

fied.  It  will  make  things  easier  perhaps.  You 
don't  wonder  how  I  happen  to  know  about 
your  trouble? " 

'  There  could  be  only  one  explanation." 

*  Thank  you.     That  simplifies  matters  also." 
A  halt;    then  the  fundamental  question  direct: 
'  Will   you   trust   me   to   help   you,    trust   me 
unqualifiedly? " 

'  Yes,"  no  hesitation,  no  amplification,  just 
that  single  word,  "  yes." 

Darley  Roberts  remained  for  a  moment  quite 
still. 

'  Thank  you,  again,"  he  said.  "  I  have  had 
few  compliments  in  my  life,  and  that  is  one." 
Again  he  sat  quite  still,  all  but  the  great 
hands,  the  only  feature  of  him  that  ever  showed 
restlessness  or  rebellion.  '  To  begin  with,"  he 
resumed  suddenly,  "  I  am  a  lawyer,  not  a 
preacher.  My  business  is  with  marriage  the 
contract,  not  marriage  the  sacrament.  Senti 
ment  has  no  place  in  law.  Contracts  are  prom 
ises  to  deliver  certain  tangible  considerations; 
otherwise  there  would  be  none.  Again  contracts 
are  specified  or  implied;  but  morally  equally 
binding,  equally  inviolable.  In  the  eye  of  the 
law  when  you  married  Margery  Cooper  you 
contracted,  by  implication,  to  deliver  certain 

[  204  1 


Friendship 

considerations,  chief  among  them  one  purely 
psychological  —  happiness.  By  implication  you 
did  this.  Is  it  not  so?  " 

'Yes,  by  implication." 

"Have  you  fulfilled  that  contract?" 

"  I  have  tried." 

'  The  law  does  not  recognize  attempts. 
We  're  ignoring  the  Church  and  sentiment  now. 
Have  you  fulfilled  your  contract? " 

"No;   I  failed." 

"You  admit  it  freely?" 

'Yes;    I  can't  do  otherwise." 

"  Let 's  drop  the  legal  point  of  view  then. 
You  know  why  you  failed?" 

'  Yes,  and  no.  A  contract  carries  a  mutual 
obligation.  Margery  failed  also." 

Roberts  flashed  a  look. 

"  Do  you  desire  a  separation,  too? "  incisively. 

"No,  God,  no!"  It  was  sudden  panic.  "I 
love  her." 

"  And  she  loves  you,"  evenly.  "  She  '11  re 
turn,  unquestionably  —  and  in  the  future  will 
go  again  as  inevitably,  unless  you  fulfil  your 
contract.  It 's  life." 

Again  Harry  Randall  stared  straight  before 
him,  the  weight  of  the  universe  suddenly  on  his 
shoulders. 

[  205  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  Fulfil  —  "  he  halted.  "  Supposing  I  can't 
fulfil?" 

'  Wait.  We  '11  discuss  that  in  a  moment. 
First,  you  admit  there  was  a  certain  justifica 
tion  for  what  she  has  done?" 

No  rebellion  this  time,  no  false  pride. 

*  Yes,"  simply;  "  you  were  right.    I  admit  it." 

'  The  contract  of  implied  happiness  then ;  you 
failed  because  - 

Randall  completed  the  sentence  as  was  in 
tended.  "  Because  we  could  not  live,  cannot  live,  as 
Margery  demands,  upon  what  it  is  possible  for  me 
to  make.  There  is  absolutely  no  other  reason." 

"  She  is  extravagant,  you  think? " 

"  For  the  wife  of  one  in  my  position,  yes." 

"  I  did  n't  ask  you  that.  Is  she  extravagant, 
for  herself  as  she  is  ? " 

Against  his  will  the  first  suggestion  of  color 
showed  on  Randall's  face. 

"  I  fail  to  see  the  distinction,"  he  said. 

"  In  other  words,"  remorselessly,  "  you  ques 
tion  my  right  to  wield  the  probe.  You  prefer 
not  to  be  hurt  even  to  effect  a  cure." 

:<  No,  I  repeat  that  I  'm  not  a  cad.     Besides, 
I  Ve  told  you  I  trust  you.     When  a  woman 
marries  a  man,  though,  with  her  eyes  open  - 
He  caught  himself.     :'  Pardon  me,  I  'm  ashamed 

f  206  1 


Friendship 

to  have  said  that.  To  answer  your  question: 
no ;  Margery  was  n't  extravagant  in  the  least 
by  her  standard." 

'  You  mean  by  '  her  standard,'  "  apparently 
Roberts  had  heard  only  the  last  sentence,  "  the 
habit  and  experience  of  her  whole  life,  of  twenty- 
two  years  of  precedent  when  you  married  her." 

"  Yes." 

"  And  of  generations  of  inheritance  back  of 
that.  The  Coopers  are  an  old  stock  and  have 
always  been  moderately  wealthy,  have  they  not?  " 

'  Yes,  back  as  far  as  the  record  goes." 

'Very  good.  Can  you,  by  any  stretch  of  the 
imagination,  fancy  Mrs.  Randall,  being  as  she 
is,  ever  living  happily  in  an  atmosphere  so  dif 
ferent  from  that  she  has  known,  which  time  and 
circumstance  have  made  her  own?  Can  you? " 

"  No."  The  voice  was  low  again,  very  low. 
"  In  my  sane  moments,  never." 

Roberts  waited  deliberately,  until  the  pause 
added  emphasis ;  with  equal  deliberation  he  drove 
the  wedge  home. 

"  And  still,  in  the  fulness  of  this  knowledge, 
you  contracted  by  implication  to  deliver  to  her 
this  same  thing  —  happiness,"  he  said. 

A  second  Harry  Randall  waited,  then  uncon 
sciously  he  passed  his  hand  across  his  face. 

[  207  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

'  Yes,"  he  echoed,  "  in  the  fulness  of  knowl 
edge  I  did  it.  I  loved  her." 

"Loved?  And  yet  you  sacrificed  her!  And 
on  top  of  that  again  labelled  her  rebellion  un 
justified!"  He  was  silent. 

Again  Harry  Randall's  hand  passed  across 
his  face,  and  this  time  it  came  back  damp. 

"  God,  you  're  hard  on  me!  "  he  said.  "  I  de 
serve  it,  though,  and  more.  She  was  ignorant 
absolutely  of  what  it  meant  to  count  pennies  and 
deny  herself.  She  couldn't  realize,  couldn't!" 

Roberts  said  nothing.  The  leaven  was  work 
ing. 

"  I  hoped,  deluded  myself  with  the  belief,  that 
it  would  be  different;  yet  from  the  first  I  knew 
better.  I  was  to  blame  absolutely.  I  simply 
loved  her,  as  I  do  now  —  that  was  all." 

'Yes."  This  time  the  voice  was  gentle,  un 
believably  gentle.  :'  I  think  I  understand  — 
think  I  do.  Anyway,"  the  voice  was  matter  of 
fact  again,  startlingly,  perhaps  intentionally,  so, 
"  we  're  wandering  from  the  point.  The  past 
is  dead.  Let 's  bury  it  and  look  into  the  future. 
Do  you  see  the  solution  yet?" 

Randall  looked  up  swiftly.  He  smiled;  the 
smile  of  a  noncombatant. 

'  Yes,  I  see  it;  I  can't  help  seeing  it;  but  —  " 

[  208  ] 


Friendship 

The  sentence  completed  itself  in  a  gesture  of 
impotency  confessed. 

"  Don't  do  that,  don't!  "  The  annoyance  was 
not  simulated.  "  It 's  unforgivable.  .  .  .  You're 
healthy,  are  you  not?" 

"  Yes." 

"And  strong?" 

"  Reasonably." 

'  Well,  what  more  can  you  ask?  The  world  's 
full  of  work;  avalanches  of  it,  mountains  of  it. 
It  seems  as  though  there  never  was  so  much  to 
be  done  as  now,  to-day;  and  the  world  will 
pay,'  pay  if  you  '11  do  it.  Can't  you  see  light?  " 

Randall  caught  himself  in  time  to  prevent  a 
second  gesture. 

"  No,  frankly,  I  can't.  I  Ve  tried,  but  I  'm 
fundamentally  incapable." 

Roberts'  great  fighting  face  flashed  about. 

"You've  tried  — how?" 

Randall  hesitated,  and  once  again  the  color 
mounted  his  cheek. 

"  I  do  my  work  here  in  the  department  the  best 
I  can,  creditably,  I  think;  but  still  there  isn't 
much  to  look  forward  to,  nothing  adequate." 

"  And  that 's  as  far  as  you  Ve  tried? ' 

"  Yes;   I  have  no  other  training." 

Roberts  looked  at  him,  merely  looked. 

14  [  209  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  No  other  training !  .  .  .  You  fancy  this 
little  university,  this  little  bounded,  contracted 
circle,  is  the  world  ?  You  Ve  tried !  Let  me  see 
your  hands." 

Higher  and  higher  mounted  the  tell-tale  color ; 
obedient  as  a  schoolboy  Randall  obeyed.  Some 
thing  compelled. 

Again  Roberts  looked  and  turned  away.  "  A 
woman's  hands;  I  fancied  so.  ...  And  you 
hoped  to  fulfil  your  contract,  defied  fate  —  with 
those  hands!"  His  own  worked,  and  under 
command  went  still.  '  You  agreed  to  let  me 
help  you,  did  you  not?"  he  digressed  suddenly. 

"  Yes." 

"And  promised  to  trust  me?  I  wish  that 
understood  clearly  in  the  beginning." 

'  Yes,"  again. 

'  Very  well,  then,  that  brings  us  back  to  the 
starting-point.  I  repeat  my  proposal  that  Mrs. 
Randall  and  you  change  your  residence  imme 
diately.  Must  I  analyze  further? " 

"  No,  I  understand  —  and  appreciate.  I  ac 
cept  too  if  Margery  -  '  he  halted  with  a  wry 
smile.  "  Do  you  think  she  —  would  if  I  asked 
her? " 

Roberts'  expression  did  not  alter.  "  Suppos 
ing  you  write  her  and  find  out,"  he  suggested. 

[  210  ] 


Friendship 

"  And  in  the  meantime  you  '11  have  three  days  to 
settle  in  your  new  home,"  he  added  irrelevantly. 

Again  Randall  colored,  like  a  youth  planning 
on  building  his  first  nest.  The  contagion  of  the 
thing  was  upon  him,  the  infinite,  rosy  possibili 
ties  manifest. 

"  I  can  do  it  easily,"  he  said,  "  and  she  '11  be 
surprised  —  and  pleased  —  I  can  fancy  the  way 
she  '11  look  now."  Second  thought  intruded. 
"  I  'm  afraid,  though,  the  few  things  we  've  got 
here  won't  even  make  an  impression  there.  The 
place  is  so  big  by  comparison." 

*  That 's  all  right,"  easily.  "  I  said  I  'd  want 
to  take  a  hand."  He  had  a  seeming  inspiration. 
"  Supposing  you  get  Miss  Gleason  to  help  you 
and  suggest  what  more  is  needed.  I  'm  sure 
she  'd  do  it  for  Mrs.  Randall  and  you.  I  '11 
speak  to  her  too." 

"  Just  the  thing.  I  'd  like  that  immensely. 
No  one  can  help  that  way  like  Elice." 

"  Let 's  consider  it  settled  then."  His  point 
carried,  Roberts'  great  hands  were  loose  in  his 
lap  again.  "  I  had  just  one  other  matter  I 
wished  to  speak  about  to-night.  How  'd  you 
like  to  accept  a  position  under  me  with  the  new 
company? "  He  did  not  elaborate  this  time,  did 
not  dissimulate.  :'  I  '11  personally  guarantee  you 

[  ill  } 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

four  thousand  a  year,  beginning  January  first, 
with  three  weeks'  vacation." 

"  How  would  I  like  it! "  For  the  third  time 
Harry  Randall  fell  to  polishing  his  glasses ;  but 
this  time,  in  spite  of  an  effort  to  prevent,  his 
hand  shook  visibly.  '  You  don't  need  to  ask 
me  that.  It  would  be  a  miracle ;  only  —  only 
I  'm  a  bit  afraid  of  a  position  of  that  kind  — 
afraid  it  would  be  too  big." 

'  The  company  would  expect  you  to  earn  it, 
of  course,"  impassively. 

"  But  I  'm  not  worth  it.  I  know  that  and  I 
don't  want  to  accept  under  false  representations. 
It 's  beyond  me." 

"  Beyond  nothing!  "  curtly.  '  If  I  say  you  're 
worth  it,  you  are.  I  '11  make  you  so  —  help  if 
necessary.  Do  you  accept?" 

"  Accept,  yes,  and  thank  you.  I  won't  pro 
test,  or  presume  to  misunderstand  your  intent 
in  offering  it  to  me.  I  realize  you  're  giving 
me  a  chance  to  make  good  where  I  failed  to 
fulfil  my  obligation  with  Margery."  The  voice 
was  not  so  steady  as  it  might  have  been  and  for 
an  instant  Randall  halted.  :'  If  you  don't  mind, 
though,"  he  went  on,  "  I  'd  like  to  ask  you  a 
question.  I  can't  conceive  why  you,  a  stranger, 
practically,  should  do  all  this  for  me.  I  'm 

[212  ] 


Friendship 

simply  confused,  it 's  all  so  unprecedented.    Why 
do  you  do  it,  please? " 

Into  Darley  Roberts'  eyes  crept  the  old  odd 
smile  that  spread  no  farther. 

'You  mean  it's  all  so  unprecedented  —  of 
me,"  he  returned  bluntly. 

Randall  said  nothing.     It  was  true. 

'  Was  n't  that  what  you  meant?  "  he  repeated, 
and  just  for  a  second  the  smile  crept  beyond 
the  eyes. 

'  Yes.     It 's  useless  to  lie." 

-To  me?" 
'  This  time  Randall's  face  flamed  undeniably. 

'  Yes  —  to  you,"  he  admitted.  '  You  're  posi 
tively  uncanny." 

"Don't  do  it  then,"  shortly,  "ever.  To  an 
swer  your  question:  The  main  reason,  I  think, 
is  because  to-day  is  December  the  sixth  —  a 
holiday." 

"A  holiday!"  Randall  stared,  as  in  the 
morning  Herbert  had  stared. 

:£  With  me.  .  .  .  Another  reason  is  that  I  Ve 
been  an  under  dog  myself  for  a  very  long  time 
and  —  perhaps,  though,  I  am  mistaken." 

"  No,  I  'm  one  of  the  breed  unquestionably." 

"  And  under  dogs  have  a  fondness  for  each 
other  instinctively." 

[213] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Randall  held  his  peace.  He  had  the  quality 
of  presentiment  and  it  was  active  now. 

'  There  was  still  a  third  reason."  No  smile 
in  the  blue  eyes  now,  just  an  impassive  blank. 
"  I  had  a  call  a  few  days  ago  from  an  upper 
dog,  by  heredity.  He  offered  me  a  thousand 
dollars  cold  not  to  do  —  what  I  've  just  done." 

Randall  was  not  a  good  gambler.  His  face 
whitened  to  the  lips. 

'  You  refer  to  Margery's  father,"  he  said. 

'  Yes.  It  seemed  to  me  well,  under  the  cir 
cumstances,  for  you  to  know.  He  was  strongly 
in  favor  of  letting  matters  drift.  I  gathered 
he  has  never  been  particularly  fond  of  you." 

"  No,  never.     But  Margery  - 

"  I  understand  absolutely.  Take  this  for  what 
it  is  wrorth  from  a  disinterested  observer:  Your 
wife  is  square,  man,  from  the  ground  up.  Don't 
ever  for  an  instant,  because  you  were  reared 
differently  and  have  a  different  point  of  view, 
fancy  otherwise.  Tote  your  end  of  the  load  fair 
- 1  believe  you  see  how  now  —  and  she  '11  tote 
hers.  It  '11  be  worth  your  while." 

"  Roberts !  "  Randall  was  upon  his  feet,  he 
could  not  do  otherwise.  "  Honestly  I  don't  know 
how  to  thank  you.  Anything  that  I  can  say, 
can  do  even- 

[214] 


Friendship 

"  Don't  try,  please.  I  'd  rather  you  would  n't." 
No  pretence  in  that  frank  aversion,  no  affecta 
tion.  He  arose  as  one  whose  labor  is  over. 
"  Let  it  go  at  that." 

In  sheer  perplexity  Randall  frowned.  His 
hands  sought  his  pockets. 

"  But,  confound  it,  I  don't  like  to.  It 's  so 
inhumanly  ungrateful."  The  frown  deepened. 
"  Besides,  when  this  intoxication  is  off  I  '11  real 
ize  what  a  lot  I  'm  accepting  from  you.  That 
house,  for  instance.  You  did  n't  buy  a  place  of 
that  kind  for  an  investment  or  for  yourself 
alone.  I  'm  not  an  absolute  ass.  You  11  want 
it  all  some  of  these  times,  and  then  - 

Slowly  Roberts  faced  about;  equally  slowly 
he  smiled. 

'  Would  it  relieve  your  mind  any,"  he  finally 
asked,  "if  I  were  to  promise  to  tell  you  the 
moment  I  do  want  it  —  all?" 

"  Yes,  a  lot." 

"  I  give  you  my  word  then." 

:'  Thanks.    I  believe  that  too;  but  — 

For  the  second  time  Roberts  smiled,  the  smile 
of  finality  unquestionable. 

"  Must  we  return  and  go  through  it  all 
again?"  he  asked.  "It's  after  midnight  now, 
but  if  you  wish- 

[215] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"No;   not  that  either." 

"  All  right.  I  '11  send  the  office-boy  around 
in  the  morning  to  help  you  move.  He  has 
nothing  else  really  to  do."  Roberts  paused  at 
a  sudden  thought.  '  By  the  way,  I  '11  not  be 
back  until  a  week  from  to-morrow.  Suppose 
we  have  a  little  house  warming,  just  we  four  — 
strangers,  that  night? "  and  before  the  other 
could  answer,  before  the  complex  suggestion  in 
its  entirety  took  effect,  he  was  gone. 


[216] 


CHAPTER   IV 

COMPREHENSION 

IT  was  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  a 
sultry  July  Sunday  when  a  big  red  roadster 
drew  up  all  but  noiselessly  and,  with  an  instinct 
common  to  all  motorists,  a  heritage  from  an 
equine  age  past,  stopped  at  the  nose  of  the 
hitching-post  in  front  of  the  Gleason  cottage. 
In  it  the  single  occupant  throttled  down  the 
engine  until  it  barely  throbbed.  Alighting,  gog 
gles  on  forehead,  he  passed  up  the  walk  toward 
the  house.  Not  until  he  was  fairly  at  the  steps 
did  he  apparently  notice  his  surroundings.  Then, 
unexpectedly,  he  bared  his  head. 

"  Be  not  surprised,  it  is  I,"  he  said.  "  Not 
in  the  spirit  alone  but  in  the  flesh."  Equally 
without  warning  he  smiled.  "  Needless  to  say 
I  'm  glad  to  see  you  again,  Elice,"  as  he  took 
the  girl's  offered  hand.  Then  deliberately  re 
leasing  it:  "and  you  too,  Armstrong,"  extend 
ing  his  own. 

[217] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Precisely  as,  with  his  companion  of  the  shady 
porch,  he  had  risen  upon  the  newcomer's  ad 
vent,  the  other  man  stood  there.  If  possible  his 
face,  already  unnaturally  pale  for  a  torrid  after 
noon,  shaded  whiter  as  an  instant  passed  with 
out  his  making-  a  motion  in  response. 

"  And  you  too,  Armstrong,"  Roberts  repeated, 
the  smile  still  on  his  face,  the  hand  still  ex 
tended;  then,  wrhen  there  still  came  no  response, 
the  voice  lowered  until  it  was  just  audible,  but 
nevertheless  significant  in  its  curt  brevity: 
"  Shake  whether  you  want  to  or  not.  There 
are  seven  pairs  of  eyes  watching  from  behind 
that  trellis  across  the  street." 

Armstrong  obeyed  as  though  moved  by  a 
wire. 

"  Speak  loud,  so  they  can  all  hear.  They  're 
listening  too,"  directed  the  low-voiced  mentor. 

Armstrong,  red  in  the  face  now,  formulated 
the  conventional. 

"  Thanks."  Roberts  sat  down  on  the  top 
step,  his  big-boned  body  at  ease,  his  great 
bushy  head,  in  which  the  gray  was  beginning  to 
sprinkle  thick,  a  contrast  to  the  dark  pillar  of 
the  porch.  "  I  just  returned  an  hour  ago," 
he  added  as  casually  as  though  food  for  gossip 
had  not  been  avoided  by  a  hair's  breadth  and 

[218] 


Comprehension 

was  not  still  imminent.  "  It 's  good,  unquali 
fiedly,  to  be  back." 

Armstrong  returned  to  his  seat,  a  bit  uncer 
tainly.  His  hands  were  trembling  uncontrol 
lably;  in  self-defence  he  thrust  them  deep  into 
his  pockets. 

"  Have  you  been  out  of  town? "  he  asked. 

'  Yes,  for  over  a  month."  No  affectation  in 
that  even  friendliness.  He  laughed  suddenly 
in  tolerant,  all  but  impersonal,  self-analysis. 
"  And  I  'm  tired  —  tired  until  the  marrow  of 
my  bones  aches."  He  laughed  again.  "  It 
seems  as  though  I  never  was  so  tired  in  my 
life." 

Armstrong  looked  at  him,  in  a  sudden  flash 
of  the  old  confidence  and  admiration. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  then,"  he  said  hurriedly. 
"  I  did  n't  know  that  you  had  been  away,  of 
course,  and  rather  fancied,  from  your  coming  so 
unexpected  -  And  that  again  after  two  years 
almost  —  You  can  understand  how  it  was  pos 
sible,  can't  you?  I  'm  ashamed." 

"  Certainly  I  can  understand,"  easily.  '''  Let 's 
all  forget  it.  I  have  already."  He  smiled  an 
instant  comprehensively  fair  into  the  blue  eyes, 
then  characteristically  abruptly  he  digressed. 
"  By  the  way,  Elice,"  he  said,  "  can't  we  have 

[  219  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

some  of  those  cookies  of  yours?  I  Ve  dreamed 
of  them,  along  with  other  things,  until  -  Do, 
please,  if  they  're  in  stock.  I  mean  it.  Still 
down  at  Phelps's  are  you? "  he  asked  the  other 
directly  when  the  girl  had  gone. 

"  No."  A  long  pause  wherein  Armstrong  did 
not  look  up.  "I  —  left  there  a  couple  of  weeks 
ago.  I  'm  not  doing  anything  in  particular  just 
now." 

The  cookies,  far-famed  and  seemingly  always 
available,  were  on  hand,  and  Roberts  relapsed 
into  silence.  From  her  own  seat  behind  them 
Elice  Gleason  sat  looking  at  the  two  men,  pre 
cisely  as  she  had  looked  that  first  evening  they 
had  called  in  company. 

'That's  a  new  motor  out  there,  isn't  it? '? 
she  asked  at  last. 

'  Yes."  Roberts  roused  and  shook  the  scat 
tered  crumbs  off  his  khaki  coat.  "  It  came  while 
I  was  away.  This  is  the  first  try-out." 

Miss  Gleason  was  examining  the  big  machine 
with  a  critical  eye.  '  This  is  a  six-cylinder,  I 
judge.  What 's  become  of  the  old  four,  Old  —  ' 

"Reliable?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Disgraced  its  name."  Roberts  smiled  pecu 
liarly.  "  I  took  it  along  with  me  wrhen  I  went 

[220  ] 


Comprehension 

West.  It 's  scrapped  out  there  on  the  Nevada 
desert,  God  knows  where,  thirty  miles  from  no 
where.  I  fancy  the  vultures  are  wondering  right 
now  what  in  the  world  it  is." 

'You  had  an  accident?" 

"  Rather."  Roberts  got  to  his  feet  deliber 
ately.  "  Some  other  time  I  '11  tell  you  the  story, 
if  you  wish.  It  would  take  too  long  now,  and 
it 's  entirely  too  hot  here."  He  looked  at  his 
two  listeners  impartially.  "  Besides,  there 's 
other  business  more  urgent.  I  have  a  curiosity 
to  see  how  quickly  the  six-eighty  out  there 
will  eat  up  thirty  miles.  It 's  guaranteed  to 
do  it  in  twenty-five  minutes.  Won't  you  come 
along? 

"  I  '11  take  the  rumble  and  you  two  sit  for 
ward,"  he  added  as  they  hesitated.  '  You  can 
drive  as  well  as  I  can,  Elice." 

"Not  to-day;  some  other  time,"  declined 
Armstrong,  hurriedly.  He  started  up  to  avoid 
a  change  of  purpose,  and  to  cover  any  seeming 
precipitancy  lit  a  cigarette  with  deliberation. 
"  I  was  going,  really,  anyway." 

Roberts  did  not  insist,  nor  did  he  dissimulate. 

"  As  you  wish.  I  meant  it  or  I  should  n't 
have  made  the  suggestion.  Better  glue  on  your 
hair  if  you  accept,  Elice.  I  have  a  presenti- 

[  221  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

ment  that  I  '11  let  her  out  to-day."  He  started 
down  the  walk.  '  I  'm  ready  when  you  are." 

Behind  him  the  man  and  the  girl  exchanged 
one  look. 

"  Come,  Steve,"  said  the  girl  in  a  low  voice. 
"  I  ask  it." 

"  No,"  Armstrong's  thin  face  formed  a  smile, 
a  forced,  crooked  smile;  "  I  meant  what  I  said, 
too,  or  I  would  n't  have  refused.  Likewise  I 
also  have  a  presentiment  —  of  a  different  kind. 
Good-bye." 

"Steve!" 

"  No." 

And  that  was  all. 

Out  in  the  long  street,  University  Row,  glided 
the  big  red  roadster;  slowly  through  the  city 
limits,  more  rapidly  through  the  suburbs,  then, 
as  the  open  country  beyond  came  to  view,  it 
began  gradually  to  find  itself. 

"  Want  to  see  her  go,  do  you,  Elice? "  asked 
Roberts,  as  the  town  behind  them  grew  indis 
tinct  in  a  fog  of  dust. 

'  Yes,  if  you  wish." 

"  If  I  wish."  Roberts  brought  the  goggles 
down  from  his  forehead  significantly.  "If  I 
wish,"  he  repeated,  the  inflection  peculiar.  He 
looked  ahead.  The  broad  prairie  road,  dust 

[  222  ] 


Comprehension 

white  in  its  July  whiteness,  stretched  straight 
out  before  them,  without  a  turn  or  a  curve,  direct 
as  the  crow  flies  for  forty  miles,  and  on  through 
two  counties,  as  he  knew.  A  light  wind,  begot 
of  their  motion  alone,  played  on  their  faces, 
mingled  with  the  throbbing  purr  of  the  engine 
in  their  ears.  '  If  I  wish,"  for  the  third  time; 
and  notch  by  notch  the  throttle  began  to  open. 

On  they  went,  the  self -evolved  breeze  a  gale 
now,  the  throb  of  the  big  motor  a  continuous 
moan,  the  cloud  of  dust  behind  them  a  dull 
brown  bank  against  the  sky.  On  they  went  over 
corivex  grades  that  tilted  gently  first  to  the 
right,  then  to  the  left,  over  culverts  that  spoke 
one  single  note  of  protest,  over  tiny  bridges  that 
echoed  hollow  at  the  impact ;  past  dazzling  green 
cornfields  and  yellow  blocks  of  ripening  grain, 
through  great  shadows  of  homestead  groves  and 
clumps  of  willows  that  marked  the  lowest  point 
of  swales,  on  —  on  - 

Roberts  leaned  over  close,  but  his  eyes  did 
not  leave  the  road  for  the  fraction  of  a  second. 

"  Afraid,  girl?  "  he  asked. 

"  No." 

Again  the  man  looked  ahead.  They  were  fair 
in  the  open  now,  already  far  from  the  city.  It 
was  the  heat  of  a  blistering  Sunday  and  not  a 

[  223  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

team  or  a  pedestrian  was  astir.  Ahead,  for  a 
mile,  for  miles  perhaps,  as  far  as  they  could 
see,  not  an  animate  dot  marred  the  surface  of 
the  taut,  stretched,  yellow-white  ribbon. 

"Shall  I  let  her  out,  Elice?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Sure  you're  not  afraid  —  in  the  least?" 

"  Certain." 

Again  the  throttle  lever  and  its  companion 
spark  began  to  move  around  the  tiny  sextant, 
approaching  nearer  and  nearer.  Simultane 
ously,  sympathetic,  as  though  actuated  by  the 
same  power,  the  hand  of  the  speedometer  on 
the  dash  began  to  crawl  up  and  up.  They  had 
been  all  but  racing  before;  but  now- 

Behind  them  the  cloud  of  dust  rose  higher 
and  higher,  and  darker  and  darker  as  the  suc 
tion  increased.  To  either  side  was  no  longer 
yellow  and  green  distinct,  but  a  mingling,  indis 
tinct,  mottled  unreality.  Ahead  the  ribbon  of 
yellow  and  white  seemed  to  rise  up  and  throw 
itself  into  their  faces;  again  and  again  end 
lessly.  The  engine  no  longer  moaned.  It 
roared  as  a  fire  under  draft.  The  wind  was 
a  wall  that  held  them  back  like  a  vise  in  their 
places.  In  the  flash  of  a  glance  the  man  looked 
at  the  face  of  the  dial.  The  single  arm  was 

[224  ] 


Comprehension 

pasted  black  over  the  numeral  sixty.  Once  more 
the  throttle  advanced  a  notch,  the  spark  lever 
two  —  and  the  hand  halted  at  sixty-five.  The 
wind  gripped  them  afresh,  and  like  human 
fingers  grappled  with  them.  Up,  fairly  level 
with  their  eyes,  lifted  the  advancing  yellow- 
white  ribbon.  By  his  side,  though  he  did  not 
look,  the  man  knew  that  the  girl  had  covered 
her  face  with  her  hands,  was  struggling  against 
the  gale  to  breathe.  He  was  struggling  himself, 
through  wide-opened  nostrils,  his  lips  locked 
tight.  On  his  bare  hands  the  sweat  gushed 
forth  and,  despite  the  suction,  glistened  bright. 
Yet  once  more,  the  last  time  the  throttle  moved, 
the  spark  —  and  met  on  the  sextant.  With  its 
last  ounce  of  power  the  great  car  responded, 
thrilled;  one  could  feel  it,  a  vital  thing.  Once 
again  the  speed-hand  on  the  indicator  stirred; 
but  this  time  the  man  did  not  see  it,  dared  not 
look  even  for  the  fraction  of  a  second.  Like 
grim  death,  grim  life,  he  clung  to  the  wheel; 
his  eyes  not  on  the  road  beneath  but  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  ahead.  About  him  the  scuttling  earth 
shaded  from  motley  to  gray;  but  he  did  not 
see.  A  solitary  tree  loomed  ahead  beside  the 
ribbon,  and  seemed  to  crack  like  a  rifle  report 
as  they  flashed  past.  At  the  radiator  vent  a 

15  [  225  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

tiny  cloud  of  steam  arose,  caught  the  gale,  and 
stung  damp  on  his  cheeks.  Far  ahead,  then 
nearer  and  nearer  miraculously,  a  blot  of  green 
that  he  knew  was  the  tree  fringe  of  a  river, 
took  form,  swept  forward  to  meet  them,  came 
nearer  and  nearer,  arose  like  a  wall  - 

Back  into  neutral,  separating  until  they  were 
once  more  opposite,  went  the  two  companions 
of  the  sextant.  Simultaneously  again  the  speed 
indicator  followed  the  backward  trail.  Incred 
ibly  swift  the  gale  dwindled,  until  it  barely 
fanned  their  cheeks.  The  roar  of  the  great 
engine  subsided,  until  once  more  it  was  a  gentle 
murmur.  The  vivid  green  and  the  dull  yellow 
of  summer  took  their  respective  places;  and 
like  a  live  thing,  beaten  and  cowed,  the  big  car 
drew  up  at  the  very  edge  of  the  grove,  left  the 
yellow  road-ribbon,  rustled  a  moment  amid  the 
half-parched  grass  and  halted  in  the  shadow 
blot  of  a  big  water  maple  —  thirty  miles  almost 
to  a  rod  from  the  city  limits  they  had  left. 

A  moment  the  two  humans  in  the  seat  re 
mained  in  their  places,  breathing  hard.  Delib 
erately,  almost  methodically,  Roberts  wiped  the 
sweat  from  his  face. 

*  Thirty-two  minutes,  the  clock  says,"  he 
commented.  '  We  dawdled  though  at  first.  At 

[  226  ] 


Comprehension 

the  finish  -  He  looked  at  the  indicator  pecu 
liarly.  "  I  'd  really  like  to  have  known,  for 
sure." 

The  girl  stood  up.     She  trembled  a  little. 

;<  Would  you  really?     Perhaps  - 
'You   looked,    Elice?      I    fancied   you    shut 
your  eyes." 

"  I  did  —  only  for  a  second.  It  read  seventy- 
two." 

Roberts  turned  a  switch  and  the  last  faint 
purr  ceased. 

"  I  imagined,  almost,  you  'd  be  afraid,"  he 
saici  evenly. 

"  I  was  —  horribly,"  simply. 

'You  were;  and  still  —  I  won't  do  it  again, 
Elice." 

Without  a  word  the  girl  stepped  to  the 
ground.  In  equal  silence  the  man  followed. 
Taking  off  the  long  khaki  coat  he  spread  it  on 
the  ground  amid  the  shadow  and  indicated  his 
handiwork  with  a  nod.  For  a  half-minute  per 
haps  he  himself  remained  standing,  however,  his 
great  shoulders  squared,  his  big  fingers  twitch 
ing  unconsciously.  Recollecting,  he  dropped  on 
the  grass  beside  her. 

"  Pardon  me,  Elice,"  he  apologized  bluntly, 
"  for  frightening  you."  He  smiled,  the  infre- 

F  227  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

quent,  tolerant,  self -analytic  smile.  "  I  some 
how  could  n't  help  doing  what  I  did.  I  knew 
it  would  break  out  sometime  soon.  I  could  n't 
help  it." 

For  a  moment  the  girl  inspected  him,  her 
head,  just  lifted,  resting  on  her  locked  arms, 
her  eyelids  half  closed. 

'You  knew  —  what?  Something's  hap 
pened  I  know;  something  unusual,  very.  I 
never  saw  you  before  as  you  are  to-day.  I  'd 
almost  say  you  had  nerves.  Do  you  care  to 
tell  me?" 

Roberts  was  still  smiling. 

"Do  you  care  to  have  me  tell  you? "  he 
countered. 

'  Yes,  if  you  wish." 

"  If  I  wish  —  if  I  wish  —  you  told  me  that 
once  before,  you  recall." 

"  Yes." 

"  And  I  proceeded  to  frighten  you  —  horribly. 
You  said  so." 

'  Yes,"  again. 

"  Does  that  mean  you  wish  to  be  frightened 
again?  Do  you  enjoy  it?" 

"  Enjoy  it?  I  don't  know.  I  'm  curious  to 
listen,  if  you  care  to  tell  me." 

Roberts  had  stretched  himself  luxuriously  on 
[  228  1 


Comprehension 

the  cool  sod.  He  looked  up  steadily,  through 
the  tangled  leaves,  at  the  dotted  blue  beyond. 

;'  There  's  nothing  to  frighten  you  this  time," 
he  said.  "  Nothing  to  tell  much,  just  —  money." 

"  I  gathered  as  much." 

"And  why,  Elice?" 

"  Several  reasons.  First  of  all,  a  practical 
man  does  n't  carry  an  automobile  half  across  the 
continent  by  express  without  a  definite  stake 
involved.  Later  he  does  n't  '  scrap,'  as  you  say, 
that  same  machine  without  regret  unless  the 
stake  was  big  —  and  won." 

'"You  think  I  won,  then?" 

"  I  know." 

"And  again,  why?" 

The  girl  flashed  a  glance,  but  he  was  not 
looking  at  her. 

"  Because  you  always  win,"  she  said  simply. 

"Always?"     A  pause.     "Always,  Elice?" 

"Always  in  matters  of --money." 

The  man  lay  there  still,  looking  up.  Barely  a 
leaf  in  the  big  maple  was  astir,  not  a  single  sen- 
sate  thing.  Had  they  been  the  only  two  people 
alive  on  a  desert  expanse  they  could  not  have 
been  more  isolated,  more  completely  alone.  Yet 
he  pursued  the  lead  no  further,  neither  by  word 
nor  suggestion.  Creeping  through  a  tiny  gap 

[  229  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

a  ray  of  sunlight  glared  in  his  eyes,  and  he 
shifted  enough  to  avoid  it.  That  was  all. 

In  her  place  the  girl  too  shifted,  just  so 
she  could  see  him  more  distinctly. 

"  Tell  me  about  it,"  she  said.  "  I  'm  listen 
ing." 

'  You  're  really  interested?  I  don't  care  to 
bore  you." 

'  Yes,  really.     I  never  pretend  with  you." 

Slowly  Roberts  sat  up,  his  head  bare,  his 
fingers  locked  over  his  knees. 

'  Very  well.  I  'phoned,  you  remember,  that 
I  was  going  West  to  look  at  a  mining  claim." 

"  Yes." 

"What  I  should  have  said,  to  be  exact,  was 
that  I  was  going  to  file  on  one,  if  it  was  n't 
too  late.  I  'd  already  seen  it,  on  paper,  and 
ore  from  it;  had  it  assayed  myself.  It  ran 
above  two  hundred  dollars.  It  was  one  of  those 
things  that  happen  outside  of  novels  oftener 
than  people  imagine.  The  man  who  furnished 
the  specimens  was  named  Evans,  —  a  big,  raw- 
boned  cowboy  I  met  down  in  the  Southwest, 
where  I  Ve  got  an  interest  in  a  silver  mine. 
He  'd  contracted  the  fever  and  worked  for  our 
company  for  a  time.  When  the  Nevada  craze 
came  on  he  got  restless  and  wanted  to  go  too. 

[  230  ] 


Comprehension 

He  had  n't  a  second  shirt  to  his  back  so  I  grub 
staked  him.  Nothing  came  of  it  and  I  staked 
him  again.  This  time  he  came  here  personally 
to  report.  He  had  some  ore  with  him  and  a 
map;  just  that  and  nothing  more.  Whether 
he  'd  found  anything  worth  while  he  did  n't 
know,  did  n't  imagine  he  had,  as  it  was  a  new 
section  that  had  n't  produced  as  yet.  He  had  n't 
even  taken  the  trouble  to  secure  his  claim. 
What  he  wanted  was  more  money,  grub  money; 
and  he  had  brought  the  specimen  along  as  a 
teaser.  He  swore  he  had  n't  mentioned  the 
matter  to  a  soul  except  me.  There  was  n't  any 
hurry  either,  he  said,  or  danger.  The  prospect 
was  forty  miles  out  on  the  desert  from  Tonopah, 
no  railroad  nearer,  and  no  one  was  interested 
there  much  as  yet.  If  I  'd  advance  him  another 
thousand,  though  —  I  'd  been  backing  him  a 
thousand  dollars  at  a  time  —  he  'd  go  back  and 
file  regular,  and  when  I  'd  had  an  assay  made, 
if  the  thing  looked  good,  he  'd  sell  to  me  out 
right  for  five  thousand  cash." 

For  the  first  time  the  speaker  halted,  looked 
at  the  listener  directly. 

"  Still  interested,  are  you?  "  he  queried.  "  It 's 
all  money,  money  from  first  to  last." 

"  Yes,    go    on.      I    think    I    saw    this    man 

[  231  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Evans,  did  n't  I,  around  with  you  for  several 
days?" 

"  Possibly.  I  kept  him  here  while  I  was  get 
ting  a  report.  I  'd  seen  some  ore  before  and 
the  scent  looked  warm  to  me.  Besides,  I  knew 
Evans,  and  under  the  circumstances  I  felt 
better  to  keep  him  in  sight.  I  did  for  a  week, 
night  and  day.  He  never  left  me  for  an  hour. 
He  'd  been  eating  my  bread  and  salt  for  a  year, 
had  every  reason  to  be  under  obligation  and 
loyal,  was  so  tentatively,  his  coming  proved 
that;  but,  while  one  has  to  trust  others  up 
to  a  certain  point  in  this  world,  beyond  that 
- 1  Ve  found  beyond  that  it 's  better  not  to 
take  chances,  even  on  obligation.  .  .  .  Have 
you  ever  known  anything  of  the  kind  your 
self?  " 

The  girl  was  not  looking  at  him  now.  "  I  Ve 
had  little  experience  with  people,"  she  evaded, 
"  very  little.  Go  on,  please.  I  'm  interested." 

:'  Well,  the  report  came  the  day  I  'phoned 
you,  on  the  last  delivery.  Evans  was  killing 
time,  as  usual,  about  the  office  and  I  called  him 
into  my  private  room  and  locked  the  door.  I 
read  it  through  to  him  aloud,  every  word;  and, 
he  did  n't  seem  to  take  it  all  in  at  first,  again. 
All  at  once  the  thing  came  over  him,  the  full 

[  232  ] 


Comprehension 

meaning  of  that  assay  of  two  hundred  dollars 
to  the  ton  —  and  he  went  to  pieces,  like  a  fly 
wheel  that 's  turned  too  fast.  He  simply  caved. 
For  ten  years  he  'd  been  chasing  the  rainbow 
of  chance,  and  now  all  at  once,  when  he  'd  fairly 
given  up  hope,  he  'd  stumbled  upon  it  and  the 
pot  of  gold  together.  It  was  too  much  for 
him. 

'  This  was  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  I 
say.  At  six  o'clock  I  unlocked  the  door  and 
things  began  to  move  definitely.  What  hap 
pened  in  that  hour  does  n't  matter.  It  was  n't 
pleasant,  and  under  the  circumstances  no  one 
would  believe  me  if  I  told;  for  I  had  his  written 
promise  to  show  me  the  ledge  he  'd  found  and 
to  sell  whatever  right  he  had  to  the  claim  him 
self  to  me  for  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  .  .  . 
I  found  it,  I  have  an  incontestible  title  to  it, 
and  I  refused  a  million  dollars  flat  for  it  less 
than  three  days  ago!" 

In  her  place  the  girl  half  raised,  met  the 
speaker  eye  to  eye. 

"  And  still,  knowing  in  advance  it  was  worth 
a  fortune,  Evans  sold  to  you." 

"Yes,  voluntarily;  begged  it  of  me.  I  said 
no  one  would  believe  me  now,  even  you  —  I 
don't  care  for  the  opinion  of  any  one  else." 

[  £33  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  I  don't  doubt  you,  not  for  a  second."  The 
brown  eyes  had  dropped  now.  "  But  I  can't 
quite  understand." 

"  No,  I  repeat  once  more,  no  one  can  under 
stand  who  was  n't  there.  He  was  crazy,  avari 
ciously  crazy.  He  wanted  the  money  then,  then; 
wanted  to  see  it,  to  feel  it,  that  minute.  It 
was  his  and  he  wanted  it;  not  the  five  thou 
sand  he  'd  promised,  but  five  times  that.  He 
would  n't  wait.  He  would  have  it. 

"  I  tried  to  reason  with  him,  to  argue  with 
him,  offered  him  his  own  terms  if  he  'd  let  me 
develop  it;  but  he  wouldn't  listen.  If  I 
would  n't  accept  he  'd  throw  me  over  entirely, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  I  'd  made  the  find 
possible,  and  sell  to  some  one  else  —  sell  some 
thing  he  did  n't  have ;  for  at  last  it  all  came 
out,  why  he  'd  gone  crazy  and  would  n't  wait. 
He  'd  lied  to  me  previously.  Before  he  'd  left 
Tonopah  he  'd  talked,  told  of  his  find  to  a  half- 
dozen  of  his  friends,  and  left  them  specimens 
of  the  same  ore  he  'd  brought  me.  He  'd  told 
them  everything,  in  fact,  except  the  location.  It 
developed  that  he  had  retained  judgment  enough 
to  keep  back  even  a  hint  of  that;  and  they  were 
waiting  for  him  there,  —  he  knew  it  and  I  knew 
it,  —  waiting  his  return,  waiting  to  learn  the 

[  234  ] 


Comprehension 

location,  and  to  steal  his  claim  before  he  could 
stake  it  himself." 

"  And  still,  feeling  certain  of  that  in  your 
own  mind,  you  paid  him  his  price!  " 

"  Every  dollar  of  it  —  before  I  took  the  mid 
night  train  West.  I  raised  it  after  business 
hours,  in  a  dozen  different  ways;  but  I  got 
it.  I  pooled  for  security  everything  I  had  in 
the  world  —  except  Old  Reliable ;  I  kept  that 
free  for  a  purpose,  —  my  house,  my  library,  my 
stock  in  the  traction  company,  some  real  estate 
I  own.  I  had  to  give  good  measure  because  I 
had' to  have  the  money  right  then.  And  I  got 
it.  It  was  a  pull  but  I  got  it." 

The  girl's  head  was  back  on  her  folded  arms 
once  more,  the  long  lashes  all  but  covering  her 
eyes. 

"  Supposing  Evans  had  been  lying  to  you 
after  all,"  she  suggested,  "in  other  things  be 
sides  the  one  you  mentioned." 

Over  Roberts'  face  flashed  a  momentary  smile. 

"  I  told  you  we  \vere  locked  in  that  room  to 
gether  for  an  hour.  He  was  n't  lying  to  me  after 
that  time  had  passed,  rest  assured.  Besides,  I 
was  n't  entirely  helpless  or  surprised.  I  'd  been 
out  in  that  country  myself  and  Evans  was  n't 
the  only  man  I  had  reporting.  I  'd  been  wait- 

[  235  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

ing  for  a  chance  of  this  kind  from  the  day  the 
first  prospect  developed  at  Goldfield.  I  knew 
it  would  come  sometime  —  if  I  waited  my 
chance." 

"  So  you  gambled  —  with  every  cent  you  had 
in  the  world." 

'  Yes.  All  life  is  a  gamble.  If  I  had  lost 
I  was  only  thirty-five  and  the  earth  is  big. 
Besides,  to  all  the  world  I  was  still  '  old  man ' 
Roberts,  not  '  Darley.'  There  was  yet  plenty 
of  time  —  if  I  lost." 

'  You  went  West  that  same  evening,  you 
say."  The  long  lashes  were  all  but  touching 
now.  "What  then?" 

'  Yes,  with  Evans  in  the  same  Pullman  sec 
tion  and  Old  Reliable  in  the  express  car  for 
ward.  I  had  an  idea  in  my  head  and  followed 
it  out.  I  felt  as  certain  as  I  was  of  my  own 
name  that  they  'd  have  scouts  out  to  wire  ahead 
when  Evans  was  coming ;  so  it  would  n't  be 
any  use  to  get  off  at  an  obscure  place.  I  also 
knew  that  the  chances  were  I  could  n't  get  a 
conveyance  there  at  once  for  love  or  money;  so 
Old  Reliable  was  already  —  good  and  ready. 
Every  tank  was  full.  The  tonneau  was  packed: 
ten  gallons  extra  gas,  five  gallons  of  water,  a 
week's  rations  —  everything  I  could  think  of 

[236  ] 


Comprehension 

that  we  might  need.  We  'd  go  through  to  the 
end  of  the  line,  all  right,  but  if  I  could  help 
it  we  shouldn't  wait  long  after  we  got  there. 
And  we  didn't." 

This  time  the  girl  did  not  interrupt,  either 
with  comment  or  gesture;  merely  lay  there 
listening. 

'  Ten  minutes  after  we  struck  town  we  were 
away,  under  our  own  power.  It  was  night,  but 
we  were  away  just  the  same.  And  that 's  where 
we  got  the  lead,  —  a  half  hour's  lead.  They 
knew,  all  right,  that  we  'd  come,  fancied  they 
knew  everything  —  but  they  hadn't  planned  on 
Old  Reliable.  It  took  them  just  that  long  to 
come  to  and  make  readjustment.  Then  the  real 
fun  began.  There  was  no  moon,  and  out  on 
the  desert  the  night  was  as  dark  as  a  pocket. 
We  simply  had  to  have  a  light  even  if  it  gave 
us  away.  Evans  thought  he  knew  the  road ;  but, 
if  there  ever  was  one,  before  we  'd  gone  ten 
miles  we  'd  lost  it.  After  that  I  drove  by  com 
pass  entirely  —  and  instinct.  But  I  could  n't  go 
fast.  I  did  n't  dare  to.  For  an  hour  and  a  half 
—  the  indicator  showed  we  'd  gone  twenty-four 
miles  —  we  had  everything  to  ourselves,  seem 
ingly  the  entire  world.  We  had  n't  heard  a 
sound  or  seen  a  live  thing.  Then,  as  we  came 

[  237  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

up  on  a  rise,  Evans  looked  back  and  saw  a  light, 
-just  one  light,  away,  away  back  like  a  star. 
A  few  seconds  afterward  it  disappeared  and  we 
made  a  couple  more  miles.  We  mounted  a 
second  rise  and  —  this  time  Evans  swore.  He 
was  with  me  by  this  time,  body  and  soul,  game 
to  the  finish ;  for  the  light  was  n't  starlike  now 
by  any  means.  It  did  n't  even  twinkle.  It  just 
simply  rose  up  out  of  the  ground,  shone  steady, 
vanished  for  a  time,  and  rose  up  anew  with  the 
lay  of  the  country.  They  were  on  our  trail  at 
last,  they  could  n't  miss  it.  It  was  plain  as  a 
wagon  road,  and  they  were  making  two  miles 
to  our  one.  They  must  have  had  a  good  car; 
but  anyway  everything  was  with  them.  They 
could  drive  to  the  limit  by  our  trail;  but  I 
could  n't,  for  I  did  n't  know  what  was  ahead. 
I  let  her  out,  though,  and  Evans  watched.  He 
didn't  swear  now,  he  just  watched;  and  every 
time  that  light  showed  it  was  nearer.  At  last, 
-  we  'd  made  thirty-two  miles  by  that  time,  — 
he  saw  two  lights  behind  instead  of  one  —  and 
saw  them  red,  I  judge,  for  how  he  swore!  It 
was  then  or  never  and  I  opened  the  throttle 
to  the  last  notch  and  we  flew  over  everything, 
through  everything  until  —  we  stopped." 
'You  struck  something?" 

[  238  ] 


Compr  ehen  sion 

'Yes.  I  don't  know  what  nor  didn't  stop 
to  see.  The  transmission  went,  I  knew  that. 
The  engine  was  still  threshing  and  pounding 
when  we  took  to  our  heels.  We  could  hear  it 
and  see  the  two  lights  coming  and  we  ran  — 
Lord,  how  we  ran!  It  seems  humorous  now, 
but  it  was  n't  humorous  then.  There  was  a 
fortune  at  stake  and  a  big  one;  for  a  claim  be 
longs  to  the  chap  who  puts  up  the  monuments. 
We  ran  straight  ahead  into  the  night,  until  we 
could  n't  run  another  foot ;  and  then  we  walked, 
walked,  ten  miles  if  an  inch,  until  the  two  lights 
of  Did  Reliable  became  one,  and  then  went  out 
of  sight  entirely.  Then  we  lay  down  and  panted 
and  waited  for  daylight.  .  .  .  That 's  about  all, 
I  guess." 

"They  didn't  follow  you,  then?"  The  girl 
was  sitting  up  now,  the  brown  eyes  wide 
open. 

'  They  could  n't.  A  hound  might  have  done 
so,  but  a  human  being  could  n't  that  night." 
Roberts  dropped  back  to  the  grass,  again  avoid 
ing  the  rift  of  light.  "  At  daylight  Evans  got 
his  bearings,  and  that  day  we  found  the  claim, 
built  our  monuments,  tacked  up  the  notice  and 
the  rest.  I  learned  afterwards  there  were  six 
men  in  the  machine  behind;  but  I  never  saw 

[  239  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

any  of  them  —  until  the  day  I  left.  They  made 
me  an  offer  then." 

"And  Old  Reliable?" 

Roberts  hesitated,  then  he  laughed  oddly. 

"  I  paid  a  parting  visit  there  too.  The  re 
mains  were  n't  decent  junk  when  the  same  six 
got  through  expressing  their  feelings  that 
night." 


[  240  ] 


CHAPTER   V 

FULFILMENT 

A  N  hour  had  passed.  As  the  afternoon  sun 
JL\*  sank  lower  the  shadow  blot  beneath  the  big 
maple  had  lengthened  and  deepened.  In  con 
sequence  the  annoying  light-rift  was  no  more. 
Overhead  the  leaves  were  vibrating,  barely  vi 
brating,  with  the  first  breath  of  breeze  of  even 
ing  born.  Otherwise  there  was  no  change;  just 
the  big  red  roadster  and  the  man  and  the  girl 
idling  beside. 

"  Poverty,  work,  subservience,"  conversation 
had  drifted  where  it  would,  at  last  had  tem 
porarily  halted,  with  the  calendar  rolled  back 
twenty  years;  "poverty,  work,  subservience," 
the  man  had  paused  there  to  laugh,  the  odd, 
repressed  laugh  that  added  an  emphasis  no 
mere  words  could  express.  '  Yes ;  they  're  old 
friends  of  mine,  very  old  friends,  very.  I  'm 
not  likely  to  forget  the  contrast  they  Ve  made, 
ever,  no  matter  what  the  future  holds." 

'  You  Ve  not  forgotten,  then,  what 's  past,  — 

16  [  241  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

overlooked  it?     Isn't  it  better  to  forget,  some 
times,  —  some  things? " 

"  Forget? "  The  man  was  looking  straight 
up  into  space.  "  I  wish  I  could  forget,  wish  it 
from  the  bottom  of  my  soul.  It  makes  me  — 
hard  at  times,  and  I  don't  want  to  be  hard. 
But  I  can't  ever.  Memory  is  branded  in  too 
deeply." 

The  girl  was  picking  a  blade  of  grass  to 
pieces,  bit  by  bit. 

"  I  'm  disappointed.  I  fancied  you  could  do 
anything  you  wished,"  she  said  low.  '  That 's 
what  has  made  me  afraid  of  you  sometimes." 

The  man  did  not  stir. 

"  Are  you  afraid  of  me  sometimes,  really? " 
he  asked. 

*  Yes,  horribly  —  as  much  afraid  as  when  we 
were  coming  out  here  to-day." 

"  I  'm  sorry,  Elice,  sorry  for  several  reasons. 
Most  of  all  because  I  love  you." 

It  was  the  first  word  of  the  kind  that  had 
ever  passed  between  them.  Yet  neither  showed 
surprise,  nor  did  either  change  position.  It  was 
as  though  he  had  said  that  gravitation  makes 
the  apple  fall,  or  that  the  earth  was  round,  a 
thing  they  had  both  known  for  long,  had  be 
come  instinctively  adjusted  to. 

[  242  ] 


Fulfilment 

"  I  knew  that,"  said  the  girl  gently,  "  and 
know  too  that  you  're  sorry  I  am  afraid.  You 
can't  help  it.  If  it  weren't  true,  though,  you 
would  n't  be  you." 

The  man  looked  at  her  gravely. 

"  You  think  it  will  always  be  that  way? "  he 
asked.  "  You  '11  always  be  afraid  at  times,  I 
mean?  " 

"  Yes.  You  're  bigger  than  I  am.  I  can't 
understand  you,  I  never  can  wholly.  I  've  given 
up  hope.  We  're  all  afraid  of  things  we  can't 
completely  understand." 

'Silently  the  man  passed  his  hand  across  his 
face,  unconsciously;  his  arm  fell  lax  at  his  side. 
As  the  girl  had  known,  he  did  not  follow  the 
lead,  would  not  follow  it  unless  she  directed  the 
way. 

'  You  said  you  fancied  I  could  forget  what 's 
past,"  he  said  at  last.  "  Did  you  honestly  be 
lieve  that?" 

'  Yes,  or  ignore  it." 

"  Ignore  it  —  or  forget !  "  The  fingers  of  the 
great  hands  twitched.  "  Some  things  one  can't 
ignore  or  forget,  girl.  To  do  so  would  be  super 
human.  You  don't  understand." 

"  No ;  you  Ve  never  told  me.  You  've  suggested 
at  times,  merely  suggested;  nothing  more." 

[  243  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

'You'd  like  to  know  why  —  the  reason?    It 
would  help  you  to  understand? " 

"  Yes;    I  think  it  would  help." 

"  It  might  even  lead  to  making  you  —  un 
afraid?  " 

A  halt  this  time,  then,  "  Yes,  it  might  pos 
sibly  do  even  that." 

Again  the  man  looked  at  her  for  long  in 
silence,  and  again  very  gravely. 

"I'll  tell  you,  then,"  he  said.  "It  isn't 
pleasant  for  me  to  tell  nor  for  you  to  hear; 
but  I  'd  like  you  to  know  why  —  if  you  can. 
They  're  all  back,  back,  the  things  I  'd  like  to 
forget  and  can't,  a  very  long  way.  They  date 
from  the  time  I  first  knew  anything." 

The  girl  settled  deeper  into  the  soft  coat,  her 
eyes  half  closed. 

'  You  told  me  once  you  could  n't  remember 
your  mother  even,"  she  suggested. 

"  No,  nor  my  father,  nor  any  other  relatives, 
if  I  ever  had  any.  I  was  simply  stranded  in 
Kansas  City  when  it  was  new.  I  was  n't  born 
there,  though,  but  out  West  on  a  prairie  ranch 
somewhere.  The  tradition  is  that  my  parents 
were  hand-to-mouth  theatrical  people,  who  'd  got 
the  free  home  craze  and  tried  to  live  out  on  the 
west  Kansas  desert,  who  were  dried  out  and 

[244] 


Fulfilment 

starved  out  until  they  went  back  on  the  road; 
and  who  then,  of  course,  did  n't  want  me.  I 
don't  know.  Anyway,  when  my  brain  awoke 
I  was  there  in  Kansas  City.  As  a  youngster  I 
had  a  dozen  homes  —  and  none.  I  was  any  one's 
property  —  and  no  one's.  I  did  anything,  ac 
cepted  whatever  Providence  offered,  to  eat.  Ani 
mals  must  live  and  I  was  no  exception.  The 
hand  seemingly  of  every  man  and  woman  in  the 
world  was  against  me,  and  I  conformed  to  the 
inevitable.  Any  one  weaker  than  I  was  my 
prey,  any  one  stronger  my  enemy.  I  learned 
to1  fight  for  my  own,  to  run  when  it  was  wisest, 
to  take  hard  knocks  when  I  could  n't  avoid  them 
—  and  say  nothing.  It  was  all  in  the  game.  I 
know  this  is  n't  pleasant  to  hear,"  he  digressed. 

"  I  'm  listening.     Go  on,  please." 

"  That  was  the  first  stage.  Then,  together 
with  a  hundred  other  similar  little  beasts,  a 
charitable  organization  got  hold  of  me  and 
transplanted  me  out  into  the  country,  as  they 
do  old  footsore  hack  horses  when  they  get  to 
cluttering  the  pavement.  Chance  ordained  that 
I  should  draw  an  old  Norwegian  farmer,  the 
first  generation  over,  and  that  he  should  draw 
me.  I  fancy  we  were  equally  pleased.  His 
contract  was  to  feed  me  and  clothe  me  and,  —  I 

[  245  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

was  twelve  at  the  time,  by  the  way,  —  to  get  out 
of  me  in  return  what  work  he  could.  There 
was  no  written  contract,  of  course;  but  never 
theless  it  was  understood  just  the  same. 

"  He  fulfilled  his  obligation  —  in  his  way. 
He  was  the  first  generation  over,  I  repeat,  and 
had  no  more  sense  of  humor  than  a  turtle.  He 
saw  that  I  had  all  I  could  eat  —  after  I  'd  done 
precisely  so  much  work,  his  own  arbitrary  stint, 
and  not  a  minute  before.  If  I  was  one  iota 
short  I  went  hungry  as  an  object-lesson.  He 
gave  me  clothes  to  wear,  after  every  other  mem 
ber  of  the  family  had  discarded  them,  in  supreme 
disregard  for  suitability  or  fit.  He  sent  me  to 
school  —  during  the  months  of  January  and 
February,  when  there  was  absolutely  nothing 
else  to  do,  and  when  I  should  have  been  in  the 
way  at  home.  At  times  of  controversy  he  was 
mighty  with  the  rod.  He  was,  particularly  at 
the  beginning  of  our  intimacy,  several  sizes 
larger  than  I.  It  was  all  a  very  pleasant  ar 
rangement,  and  lasted  four  years.  It  ended 
abruptly  one  Thanksgiving  Day. 

"  I  remember  that  day  distinctly,  as  much 
so  as  yesterday.  Notwithstanding  it  was  a  holi 
day,  I  'd  been  husking  corn  all  day  steady,  from 
dark  until  dark.  There  was  snow  on  the  ground, 

[  246  ] 


Fulfilment 

and  I  came  in  wet  through,  chattering  cold, 
hungry,  and  dog-tired  —  to  find  the  entire  fam 
ily  had  left  to  celebrate  the  evening  with  a 
neighbor.  They  did  that  often  of  a  holiday, 
but  usually  they  left  word.  This  time  they  'd 
forgotten,  or  did  n't  care.  Anyway,  it  did  n't 
matter,  for  that  day  had  been  the  last  straw. 
So  far  as  I  was  concerned  the  clock  had  struck 
twelve  and  a  new  circuit  had  begun. 

"  I  looked  about  the  kitchen  for  supper,  but 
there  was  none,  so  I  proceeded  to  prepare  one 
suitable  to  the  occasion.  Among  other  things, 
the  farmer  raised  turkeys  for  the  market  and, 
although  the  season  was  late,  there  were  a  few 
birds  left  for  seed.  I  went  out  to  the  barn  with 
a  lantern  and  picked  the  plumpest  gobbler  I 
could  find  off  the  roost,  and  an  hour  later  had 
him  in  the  oven.  This  was  at  eight  o'clock  in 
the  evening.  While  he  was  baking  I  canvassed 
the  old  farmer's  wardrobe.  I  'd  grown  like  a 
mushroom  those  last  years  and,  though  I  was 
only  sixteen,  a  suit  of  his  ready-made  clothes 
was  a  fair  fit.  I  got  into  it  grimly.  I  also 
found  a  dog-skin  fur  coat  and,  while  it  smelled 
a  good  deal  like  its  original  owner,  it  would  be 
warm,  and  I  laid  it  aside  carefully  for  future 
reference. 

[247] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

'  Then  came  supper.  I  did  n't  hurry  in  the 
least,  but  I  had  a  campaign  in  mind,  so  I  went 
to  work.  When  that  bird  was  done  I  ate  it,  and 
everything  else  I  could  find.  I  had  the  appe 
tite  of  an  ostrich,  and  when  I  was  through  there 
was  n't  enough  left  for  a  hungry  cat.  I  even 
considered  taking  the  family  cat  in  to  the  feast, 
-  they  had  one,  of  course,  and  it  always  looked 
hungry,  too;  but  I  had  a  sort  of  pride  in  my 
achievement  and  I  wanted  to  leave  the  remains 
as  evidence. 

;'  It  was  ten  o'clock  by  this  time  and  no  one 
had  shown  up.  I  was  positively  sorry.  I  'd 
hoped  the  old  farmer  would  return  and  find  me. 
I  had  a  few  last  words  to  say  to  him,  some  that 
had  been  lying  heavy  on  my  mind  for  a  long 
time.  But  he  did  n't  come,  and  I  could  n't  wait 
any  longer;  so  I  wrote  them  instead.  I  put 
on  the  dog-skin  coat  and  started  away  on  foot 
into  the  night.  If  I  'd  had  money  I  would  have 
left  the  value  of  the  clothes ;  but  he  'd  never 
given  me  a  dollar  in  all  those  four  years,  so  I 
took  them  on  account.  It  was  two  miles  to  town 
and  I  made  it  in  time  to  catch  the  ten-forty-five 
freight  out. 

"  I  forgot  one  thing,  though.  I  went  back 
after  I  'd  got  started  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  say 

[  248  ] 


Fulfilment 

good-bye  to  the  horses.  I  always  liked  horses, 
and  old  Bill  and  Jerry  and  I  had  been  good 
friends.  I  rode  the  pilot  of  that  engine  and  got 
into  Kansas  City  the  next  morning.  That  was 
the  second  stage.  .  .  .  Still  interested,  are  you, 
Elice?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Next,  I  landed  in  the  hardwood  region  of 
Missouri,  the  north  edge  of  the  Ozarks.  It  was 
the  old  story  of  one  having  to  live,  and  I  'd  seen 
an  ad  in  the  papers  for  '  loggers  wanted.'  I 
had  answered  it,  and  the  man  in  charge  dropped 
on'  me  like  a  hawk  and  gave  me  transportation 
by  the  first  train.  Evidently  men  for  the  job 
were  not  in  excess,  and  when  I  'd  been  there  a 
day  I  knew  why.  It  was  the  most  God-forsaken 
country  I  'd  ever  known,  away  back  in  the  moun 
tains,  where  civilization  had  ceased  advancing 
fifty  years  before.  The  job  was  a  contract  to 
deliver  so  many  thousand  feet  of  lumber  in  the 
log  daily  at  the  mill  on  the  nearest  railway. 
There  was  a  five-mile  haul,  and  we  worked  under 
a  boss  in  crews  of  four.  Each  crew  had  to  de 
liver  eight  big  logs  a  day,  seven  days  in  the 
week,  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  days  in  the 
year.  How  it  was  done,  when  they  were  cut, 
when  hauled,  was  not  the  boss's  affair  —  just 

[  249  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

so  the  logs  came.  When  we  of  the  crews  ate 
or  slept  was  no  one's  affair  —  just  so  we  kept 
on  the  job.  No  single  man  could  handle  one 
of  those  big  cuts,  no  single  mule  team  haul  it 
in  places  over  those  cursed  mountain  roads. 
That 's  why  we  worked  in  crews.  On  the  aver 
age  we  worked  eighteen  hours  a  day.  In  sum 
mer  this  was  long,  in  winter  it  seemed  per 
petual;  but  I  was  in  it  and  I  was  going  to  stick 
-  or  thought  I  was.  The  other  three  in  my 
gang  were  middle-aged  men,  —  hard  drinkers, 
good  swearers,  tough  as  oak  themselves.  The 
boss  was  a  little  tobacco-eating,  bow-legged  Irish 
man.  I  never,  before  or  since,  knew  a  man  who 
could  swear  as  he  could,  or  drink  so  when  he 
struck  town.  It  seems  to  go  with  the  logging 
business;  but  he  was  a  master. 

:'  I  struck  this  place  in  the  winter.  It  was  in 
the  winter  following,  again  by  chance  on  a 
holiday,  but  Christmas  this  time,  that  I  quit. 
They  don't  have  much  cold  down  in  that  coun 
try  and  usually  but  little  snow;  but  this  year 
there  had  been  a  lot,  —  soft,  wet  snow,  half  rain, 
that  melted  on  the  ground  and  made  the  roads 
almost  impassable.  For  that  reason  we  'd  been 
getting  behind  in  our  contract.  We  simply 
could  not  make  two  trips  a  day;  and  Murphy, 

[  250  ] 


Fulfilment 

the  boss,  grew  black  and  blacker.  He  swore 
that  if  we  could  n't  make  but  one  trip  a  day  on 
that  one  haul  we  'd  have  to  carry  two  logs  each 
instead  of  one.  The  thing  was  barely  possible 
on  good  roads,  wholly  impossible  with  the 
ground  softened;  but  he  was  the  boss,  his  word 
law,  and  before  daylight  on  this  Christmas 
morning  we  were  loaded  and  on  the  road. 

"  I  was  on  the  head  wagon  with  Murphy 
behind  me,  the  other  three  following.  The  first 
half-mile  was  down  grade  and  we  got  along  all 
right.  Then  came  the  inevitable  up  grade  fol 
lowing  and  the  team  began  to  flounder.  They 
were  mules,  of  course,  —  horses  could  never  have 
stood  for  a  day  the  grief  of  that  mountain 
hauling,  —  great  big-framed,  willing  fellows  that 
in  condition  would  pull  anything  any  team 
could  pull;  but  now  they  were  weak  and  tired, 
and  so  thin  that  their  bones  almost  stuck  through 
their  hides  from  the  endless  grind.  They  did 
their  best,  though,  and  struggled  along  for  a 
few  rods.  The  wheels  struck  a  rock  in  the 
road  and  they  stopped.  I  urged  them  on  and 
they  tried  again,  but  the  load  would  n't  budge. 
There  was  but  one  thing  to  do,  —  to  double  with 
the  team  behind,  and  I  slid  off  to  make  the 
coupling. 

[  251  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  Murphy  had  been  watching  it  all  in  silence, 

-  a  bad  sign  with  him.     When  he  saw  what 

I  was  going  to  do  he  held  up  his  hand  to  the 

rear  team,  which  meant:  *  Stay  where  you  are.' 

'  Give  over  the  lines,'  he  said  to  me. 

"  I  knew  what  that  meant.  I  'd  seen  him 
cripple  animals  before;  but  that  was  when  I 
first  came.  Since  then  I  'd  had  another  year 
to  grow  and  to  get  hard  and  tough.  I  was 
going  on  eighteen  and  as  big  as  I  am  now  al 
most  ;  and  I  was  n't  afraid  of  him  then  or  of 
any  human  being  alive. 

'  It 's  no  use,'  I   answered.     '  We  may  as 
well  double  and  save  time.' 

'  He  said  something  then,  no  matter  what; 
I  was  used  to  being  sworn  at. 

"  '  No,'  I  said. 

"  He  jumped  off  the  load  at  that.  I  thought 
it  was  between  us,  so  I  jerked  off  my  big  mit 
tens  to  be  ready;  but  the  mules'  turn  was 
to  come  first,  it  seems.  He  did  n't  wait  for 
anything,  just  simply  went  at  them,  like  a 
maniac,  like  a  demon.  I  won't  tell  you  about 
it  —  it  was  too  horribly  brutal  —  or  about  what 
followed.  I  simply  saw  red.  For  the  first  time 
and  the  last  time  in  my  life,  I  hope,  I  fought 
a  man  —  fought  like  a  beast,  tooth  and  nail. 

[252] 


Fulfilment 

When  it  was  over  he  was  lying  there  in  the  mud 
we  'd  made,  unconscious ;  and  I  was  looking 
down  at  him  and  gasping  for  breath.  I  was 
bleeding  in  a  dozen  places,  for  he  had  a  knife; 
but  I  never  noticed.  I  suppose  I  stood  there 
so  for  a  minute  looking  at  him,  the  other  three 
men  who  had  come  up  looking  at  me,  and  not 
one  of  us  saying  a  word.  I  reached  over  and 
felt  of  him  from  head  to  foot.  There  were  no 
bones  broken  and  he  was  breathing  steadily.  So 
I  did  what  I  suppose  was  a  cruel  thing,  but  one 
I  Ve  never  regretted  to  this  day,  though  I  Ve 
never  seen  him  since.  I  simply  rolled  him  over 
and  over  in  the  mud  and  slush  out  of  the  road 
—  and  left  him  to  come  to.  After  that  we 
pulled  off  the  second  log  from  each  of  the  four 
wagons  and  left  them  there  beside  the  track. 
Then  we  drove  on  to  town,  leaving  him  there; 
sitting  up  by  that  time,  still  dazed,  by  the 
side  of  the  road.  There  was  just  one  logging 
train  a  day  on  that  stub,  and  when  we  pulled 
into  town  it  was  waiting.  Without  a  word 
of  understanding,  or  our  pay  for  the  month, 
the  four  of  us  took  that  train  and  went  our 
four  separate  ways.  That 's  the  third  stage. 
.  .  .  Begin  to  understand  a  little,  do  you, 
Elice?" 

[  253  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

'Yes;  I  begin,  just  begin,  to  understand  — 
many  things." 

Roberts  shifted  position  silently,  his  arms 
crossed  under  his  head  for  a  pillow.  But  he 
was  still  looking  straight  up,  through  the  gently 
rocking  leaves  at  the  infinite  beyond. 

'  The  next  stage  found  me  in  a  southern  Iowa 
soft-coal  mine.  The  explanation  is  simple.  I 
had  saved  a  few  dollars;  while  they  lasted  I 
drifted,  and  to  the  north.  When  they  were 
gone  I  had  to  work  or  starve.  I  had  no  educa 
tion  whatever,  no  special  training  even.  I  was 
merely  a  big,  healthy  animal,  fit  only  for  hard, 
physical  work.  I  happened  to  be  in  a  farming 
and  mining  community.  It  was  Winter  and 
there  was  nothing  to  do  on  a  farm,  so  by  the 
law  of  necessity  I  went  to  work  heaving  coal. 

"  I  stayed  there  a  little  over  seven  months 
and  during  that  time  I  scarcely  saw  the  sun. 
I  'd  go  into  the  tunnel  at  seven  in  the  morning, 
take  my  lunch  with  me,  and  never  come  out 
until  quitting  time.  I  worked  seven  days  in 
the  week  here  too.  There  was  n't  any  union  and, 
anyway,  no  one  seemed  to  think  of  doing  dif 
ferently.  At  first  it  used  to  worry  me,  that 
being  always  in  the  dark.  My  imagination  kept 
working,  picturing  sunlight  and  green  things; 

[  254  ] 


Fulfilment 

after  a  bit  that  stage  passed  and  I  used  to 
dread  to  come  out  of  the  tunnel.  The  glare 
hurt  my  eyes  and  made  me  blink  like  an  owl 
in  the  daytime.  I  felt  chilly,  too,  and  shivered 
so  my  teeth  chattered.  But  I  stuck  to  it,  and 
after  a  few  months  the  thing  seemed  natural 
and  almost  as  though  I  'd  been  there  always. 
I  began  to  cease  to  think  and  to  work  uncon 
sciously,  like  a  piece  of  machinery.  I  even  quit 
counting  the  days.  They  were  all  the  same,  so 
what  was  the  use?  I  just  worked,  worked,  and 
the  coal  dust  ground  into  me  and  sweated  into 
me  until  I  looked  more  like  a  negro  than  a  white 
man. 

'  Time  drifted  on  this  way,  from  Winter 
until  Spring,  from  Spring  until  Summer;  at 
last  the  something  unusual  that  always  comes 
about  sooner  or  later  happened,  and  I  awoke. 
It  was  just  after  dinner  one  day  and  I  'd  gone 
back  to  the  job.  I  had  a  lot  of  loose  coal 
knocked  down  in  the  drift  and  was  shovelling 
steadily  into  a  car  when,  away  down  the  main 
tunnel,  I  saw  a  bunch  of  lights  bobbing  in  the 
darkness.  It  was  n't  the  time  of  day  for  an 
inspection,  and  anyway  there  were  several 
people  approaching,  so  I  waited  to  see  what 
it  meant. 

f  255  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

'  They  came  on  slowly,  stopping  to  look  at 
everything  by  the  way.  At  last  they  got  near 
enough  so  I  could  make  them  out;  there  were 
three  men  and  a  woman.  I  recognized  one  of 
the  men  by  this  time,  —  our  foreman,  Sharp. 
He  was  guiding  the  others  and  I  knew  then 
they  were  visitors,  owners  probably,  because  no 
stranger  had  ever  come  before  while  I  was  there. 
The  woman,  I  saw  that  she  was  a  girl  now, 
called  one  of  the  men  '  father ' ;  and  from  the 
way  she  spoke  I  guessed  why  she  was  along 
too.  She  'd  come  anyway,  whether  they  ap 
proved  or  not.  The  drift  I  was  working  in  was 
a  new  one,  just  opened;  and  when  they  got 
there  the  whole  group  stopped  a  little  way  off, 
and  Sharp  began  explaining,  talking  fast  and 
giving  figures.  If  any  of  the  men  saw  me  they 
didn't  pay  any  attention;  they  just  listened, 
and  now  and  then  one  of  them  asked  a  ques 
tion.  But  the  girl  was  n't  interested  or  listen 
ing.  She  was  all  eyes,  looking  about  here  and 
there,  taking  in  everything;  and  after  a  bit  she 
noticed  the  light  in  my  cap  and  came  peering 
over  to  see  what  it  meant.  I  just  stood  there 
watching  her  and  she  came  quite  close,  all  curi 
osity,  until  finally  she  could  see  my  face.  She 
stopped. 

[256  ] 


Fulfilment 

'  Oh,'   she  said,   '  I  thought  it  was  just  a 
light.    It 's  a  man.' 

'  Yes,  it 's  a  man,'  I  said. 
"  She  was  looking  at  me  steadily  by  this  time, 
wholly  curious. 

'A  —  a  white  man? '  she  asked. 
"  I  thought  a  moment,  then  I  understood. 

'  Yes,  a  white  man,'  I  answered. 
"  She  came  up  to  the  car  at  that  and  looked 
in.     She  glanced  back  at  me.     Evidently  she 
was  n't  entirely  satisfied. 

'  How  old  are  you  ? '  she  asked.    '  You  look 
awfully  old.' 

"  I  leaned  over  on  the  car  too;   I  'd  begun  to 
think.    I  remembered  that  to  me  she  seemed  so 
very,  very  young;  and  all  at  once  it  flashed  over 
me  that  probably  I  was  n't  a  day  older. 
"  '  Eighteen,'  I  said. 

"  '  Eighteen ! '  She  stared.  '  Why,  I  'm  eigh 
teen.  And  you  —  have  you  been  here  long?' 

"  I  suppose  I  smiled.  Anyway  I  know  I 
scared  her.  She  drew  back. 

"  *  I  don't  know,'  I  said.  '  I  Ve  forgotten. 
If  you  '11  tell  me  the  date  maybe  I  can  answer. 
I  don't  know.' 

'  You  don't  know !    You  can't  mean  that.' 
"  '  Yes,  I  Ve  forgotten.' 

17  [  257  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  She  did  n't  say  a  word  after  that,  just  looked 
at  me  —  as  a  youngster  looks  when  it  goes  to 
the  circus  for  the  first  time.  I  fancy  we  stood 
there  half  a  minute  so;  then  at  last,  interrupt 
ing,  the  man  she  'd  called  '  father  '  looked  over 
and  saw  us.  He  frowned,  I  could  see  that,  and 
said  something  to  the  foreman.  He  spoke  her 
name." 

Just  for  a  moment  Roberts  shifted  his  head, 
looking  at  his  silent  listener  steadily.  '  What 
do  you  fancy  was  that  name  he  called,  Elice? " 

Elice  Gleason  started  involuntarily,  and  settled 
back  in  her  place. 

"  I  have  n't  the  slightest  idea,  of  course." 

;'  It  was  n't  an  ordinary  name.  At  that  time 
I  'd  never  heard  it  before." 

"  I  'm  not  good  at  guessing." 

Roberts  shifted  back  to  his  old  position. 

"  It  was  '  Elice.'     '  Elice,  come,'  he  said. 

'  The  daughter  hesitated.  I  imagine  she 
wanted  to  ask  me  several  things  yet,  —  whether 
I  had  cloven  feet,  for  instance,  and  lived  on 
spiders ;  but  she  did  n't.  She  went  back  to  the 
other  three  and  they  moved  on.  That  was  the 
last  I  saw  of  them. 

"  I  worked  the  rest  of  that  day,  did  about 
three  men's  work,  I  remember.  That  night  I 

[258] 


Fulfilment 

drew  my  pay  and  went  to  bed;  but  I  didn't 
go  to  sleep.  I  did  a  lot  of  thinking  and  made 
up  my  mind  to  something.  I  decided  I  'd  been 
the  under  dog  long  enough.  I  have  n't  changed 
the  opinion  since.  Next  day  I  saw  the  sun 
when  it  was  straight  overhead  and  soaked  the 
coal  dust  out  of  my  skin  —  as  much  as  pos 
sible.  .  .  .  That 's  all  of  the  fourth  stage.  .  .  . 
Hadn't  I  better  stop?" 

The  girl  shook  her  head,  but  still  without  look 
ing  at  him. 

"No;  I  want  to  learn  what  you  did  after 
that,  after  you  woke  up." 

"  I  went  West.  I  had  n't  seen  the  sun  or  the 
sky  for  so  long  that  I  was  hungry  for  it.  In 
Omaha  I  fell  in  with  a  bunch  of  cattlemen  and, 
as  I  always  liked  to  handle  stock,  that  settled 
it.  I  accepted  an  offer  as  herder ;  they  did  n't 
call  it  that,  but  it  amounted  to  the  same.  I  had 
a  half-dozen  ponies,  rations  for  six  months,  and 
something  under  a  thousand  head  of  stock  to 
look  after.  By  comparison  it  was  n't  work  at 
all;  only  I  was  all  alone  and  it  took  all  the 
time,  day  and  night.  I  did  n't  sleep  under  a 
roof  half  a  dozen  nights  from  July  to  October. 
When  the  cattle  bunched  at  night  I  simply 
rolled  up  in  a  blanket  where  they  were  and 

f  259  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

watched  the  stars  until  I  forgot  them;  the  next 
thing  I  knew  it  was  morning.  I  had  hours  to 
read  in  though,  hours  and  hours;  and  that  was 
another  thing  I  was  after.  For  I  could  read, 
I  was  n't  quite  illiterate,  and  I  was  dead  in 
earnest  at  last.  When  the  Fall  round-up  came 
I  quit  and  went  to  Denver,  and  porter ed  in  a 
big  hotel  and  went  to  night  school. 

'  There  is  n't  much  to  tell  after  this.  I  drifted 
all  over  the  West  and  the  Southwest  during  the 
next  few  years.  I  got  the  mining  fever  and 
prospected  in  Colorado  and  California  and  Ari 
zona;  but  I  never  struck  anything.  I  learned 
something  though ;  and  that  was  that  it  is  n't 
the  fellow  who  makes  a  find  who  wins,  but  the 
chap  who  buys  the  prospect,  almost  invariably. 
That  was  useful.  Every  Winter  I  landed  in  a 
big  city  and  went  to  school,  —  night  school  or 
mining  school  or  commercial  school.  Finally  it 
dawned  upon  me  that  I  was  taking  the  long 
road  to  an  end,  that  the  short  cut  was  to  be 
really  ready  to  do  a  thing  before  making  the 
attempt.  I  decided  to  go  to  a  university.  That 
would  take  years,  and  meantime  I  had  to  live. 
I  could  make  a  living  in  a  little  city  easier  than 
a  big  one,  so  I  came  here.  .  .  .  You  know  the 
rest." 

[  260  ] 


Fulfilment 

Elice  Gleason  sat  up,  her  fingers  locked  over 
her  knees. 

"Yes,  I  know  the  rest;  but  — "  She  was 
silent. 

"  But  you  don't  wholly  understand,"  com 
pleted  the  other.  '  You  don't,  even  yet,  do  you, 
Elice?" 

"  No,  not  entirely,  even  yet." 

'  Why  I  can't  forget  when  I  wish  or  help 
being  hard? " 

'  Yes,  when  you  have  such  infinite  possibili 
ties  now." 

*'  Now,"  supplemented  the  man  evenly,  "  when 
society  at  large  could  n't  pound  me  down  any 
longer  or  prevent  my  getting  out  of  their 
power." 

The  girl  did  not  answer. 

Deliberately  Roberts  sat  up;  no  longer  list 
less  or  tolerantly  self-analytic,  but  very  wide 
awake,  very  direct. 

"  1 11  have  to  tell  you  a  few  more  reasons, 
then;  read  between  the  lines  a  bit.  I  never  did 
this  before  to  any  one;  never  will  again  —  to 
any  one.  But  I  must  make  you  understand 
what  made  me  as  I  am.  I  must;  you  know 
why.  Tell  me  to  stop  when  you  wish,  I  '11  obey 
gladly;  but  don't  tell  me  you  don't  understand. 

[  261  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

'  To  begin  again  at  the  beginning.  My  par 
ents  abandoned  me.  Why?  They  were  starved 
to  it,  forced  to  it.  Self-preservation  is  the  first 
law.  I  don't  clear  them,  but  I  understand. 
They  were  starving  and  irresponsible.  I  merely 
paid  the  price  of  relief,  the  price  society  at  large 
demanded. 

"  At  the  first  home  I  had  afterward  the  man 
drank,  —  drank  to  forget  that  he,  too,  was  an 
under  dog.  Some  one  again  must  pay  the 
price,  and  I  paid  it.  Now  and  then  I  'd  suc 
ceed  in  selling  a  few  papers,  or  do  an  errand, 
and  earn  a  few  pennies.  After  the  manner  of 
all  lesser  animals  I  'd  try  to  hide  with  them;  but 
he  'd  find  me  every  time.  He  seemed  to  have 
a  genius  for  it.  He  'd  whip  me  with  whatever 
was  handy;  at  first  for  trying  to  hide,  later, 
when  I  would  n't  cry,  because  I  was  stubborn. 
Finally,  after  he  'd  got  tired  or  satisfied,  he  'd 
steal  my  coppers  and  head  for  the  nearest  bar. 
Once  in  January  I  remember  a  lady  I  met  on 
the  street  took  me  into  a  store  and  bought  me 
a  new  pair  of  shoes.  I  hid  them  successfully 
for  a  week.  One  day  he  caught  me  with  them 
on  —  and  pawned  them. 

'  The  old  farmer  the  charity  folks  traded  me 
to  was  a  Lutheran.  Every  morning  after  break- 

[  262  ] 


Fulfilment 

fast  he  read  prayers.  He  never  missed  a  day. 
Then  he  'd  send  me  out  with  one  of  his  sons, 
—  a  grown-up  man  of  twenty- two,  —  and  if  I 
did  n't  do  exactly  as  much  work  as  the  son  I 
went  hungry  until  I  got  it  done  if  it  took  half 
the  night.  He  also  had  a  willow  sapling  he  re 
lied  upon  when  hunger  did  n't  prove  effective. 
He  'd  pray  before  he  used  that  too,  —  pray  with 
one  hand  gripping  my  neckband  so  I  couldn't 
get  away.  I  earned  a  dollar  a  day  —  one  single 
solitary  dollar  —  when  I  was  logging  oak  in  the 
Ozarks.  Day  after  day  when  we  were  on  the 
haul  I  used  to  strap  myself  fast  to  the  load  to 
keep  from  going  to  sleep  and  rolling  off  under 
the  wheels.  I  got  so  dead  tired  that  I  fell  asleep 
walking,  when  I  did  that  to  keep  awake.  You 
won't  believe  it,  but  it 's  true.  I  've  done  it 
more  than  once. 

"  I  was  sick  one  day  in  the  coal  mine,  deathly 
sick.  The  air  at  times  was  awful.  I  laid  down 
just  outside  the  car  track.  I  thought  I  was 
going  to  die  and  felt  distinctly  pleased  at  the 
prospect.  Some  one  reported  me  to  the  super 
intendent.  He  evidently  knew  the  symptoms, 
for  he  came  with  a  pail  of  water  and  soaked 
me  where  I  lay,  marked  time,  and  went  away. 
I  laid  there  for  three  hours  in  a  puddle  of  water 

[  263  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

and  soft  coal  grime;  then  I  went  back  to  work. 
I  know  it  was  three  hours  because  my  time  check 
was  docked  exactly  that  much. 

'  When  I  was  going  to  night  school  in  Den 
ver  the  day  clerk,  who  'd  got  me  the  place,  took 
half  my  tips,  the  only  pay  I  received,  to  permit 
me  to  hold  the  place.  It  was  the  rule,  I  dis 
covered,  the  under-dog  penalty. 

"  I  said  I  never  struck  anything  prospecting. 
I  did.  I  struck  a  silver  lead  down  in  Arizona. 
While  I  was  proving  it  a  couple  of  other  pros 
pectors  came  along,  dead  broke  —  and  out  of 
provisions.  I  divided  food  with  them,  of  course 
-  it 's  the  unwritten  law  —  and  they  camped 
for  the  night.  We  had  supper  together.  That 
was  the  last  I  knew.  When  I  came  to  it  was 
thirty-six  hours  later  and  I  was  a  hundred  miles 
away  in  a  cheap  hotel  —  without  even  my  bill 
paid  in  advance.  The  record  showed  that  claim 
wras  filed  on  the  day  I  disappeared.  The  mine 
is  paying  a  hundred  dollars  a  day  now.  I  never 
saw  those  two  prospectors  again.  The  present 
owner  bought  of  them  square.  I  don't  hold  it 
up  against  him. 

"  I  went  to  night  school  all  one  winter  in  San 
Francisco  with  a  fellow  named  Stuart,  another 
under  dog  like  myself.  We  roomed  together  in 

[  264  ] 


Fulfilment 

a  hall-bedroom  to  save  expense  and  ate  fifteen- 
cent  dinners  together  at  the  same  soup -house. 
He  clerked  in  a  little  tobacco  store  daytimes.  I 
was  running  an  express  elevator.  We  both 
saved  a  little  money  above  what  it  cost  to  live. 
Things  went  on  in  this  way  for  four  months, 
until  the  end  of  the  winter  term.  One  morning 
when  I  woke  up  I  found  he  'd  gone.  I  also 
found  that  the  little  money  I  'd  saved  was  gone. 
They  went  together.  I  never  saw  either  again. 
"  I  had  another  friend  once,  I  thought.  It 

was  after  I  'd  decided  to  come  here  to  the  uni- 

• 

versity.  I  was  harvesting  on  a  wheat  ranch  in 
Nebraska,  making  money  to  pay  for  my  ma 
triculation.  He  was  a  student  too,  he  said,  from 
New  York  State,  and  working  for  the  same  pur 
pose.  We  worked  there  together  all  through 
harvest,  boiled  side  by  side  in  the  same  sun. 
One  day  he  announced  a  telegram  from  home. 
His  mother  was  dying.  He  was  crazy  almost 
because  he  had  n't  nearly  enough  money  to  take 
him  back  at  once.  And  there  his  mother  was 
in  New  York  State  dying!  I  lent  him  all  I 
had  saved,  —  seventy  odd  dollars ;  and  he  gave 
me  his  note,  insisted  on  doing  so  —  though  he 
hoped  the  Lord  would  strike  him  dead  if  he 
failed  to  return  the  loan  within  four  days.  I 

[  265  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

have  that  note  yet.  Perhaps  the  Lord  did  strike 
him  dead.  I  don't  know. 

"  It  was  nearly  September  by  this  time  and 
harvest  was  over,  my  job  with  it,  of  course;  so 
I  started  on  east  afoot,  tramping  it.  I  was  n't 
a  particularly  handsome  specimen,  but  still  I 
was  clean,  and  I  never  asked  for  a  meal  with 
out  offering  to  work  for  it.  Yet  in  the  three 
hundred  miles  I  covered  before  school  opened 
I  had  four  farmers'  wives  call  the  dog,  —  I  re 
corded  the  number;  and  I  only  slept  under  a 
roof  two  nights. 

"  Even  after  I  came  here,  after  -  Elice, 
don't !  I  'm  a  brute  to  have  done  this !  From 
the  bottom  of  my  soul  I  beg  your  pardon." 

The  girl  was  weeping  repressedly,  her  face 
buried  in  her  hands,  her  whole  body  tense. 

"Elice,  please  don't!  I'm  ashamed.  I  only 
wanted  you  to  understand ;  and  now  -  I  'm 
simply  ashamed." 

"  You  need  n't  be  at  all."  As  suddenly  as  it 
had  come  the  storm  abated,  under  compulsion. 
"I  wanted  to  know  several  things  very  much; 
and  now  I  think  I  do  know  them.  At  least  I 
don't  wonder  any  more  —  why."  She  stood  up 
decisively,  disdaining  to  dry  her  eyes. 

"But  we  mustn't  stop  to  chatter  any  more 

[  266  ] 


Fulfilment 

now,"  she  digressed  preventingly.  "  You  made 
me  forget  all  about  time,  and  cooks  should  never 
forget  that.  It 's  nearly  sundown  and  father  — 
he  '11  have  been  hungry  for  two  hours." 

Roberts  got  to  his  feet  slowly.  If  in  the  new 
light  of  understanding  there  was  more  he  had 
intended  saying  that  day,  or  if  at  the  sudden 
barring  of  opportunity  he  felt  disappointment, 
his  face  gave  no  indication  of  the  fact.  He 
merely  smiled  in  tolerant  appreciation  of  the 
suggestion  last  made. 

"  Does  n't  your  father  know  the  remedy  for 
hunger  yet,  at  his  age? "  he  queried  whimsically. 

"Knows  it,  yes,"  with  an  odd  laugh;  "but 
it  would  never  occur  to  him  unless  some  one 
else  suggested  it." 

A  pause,  then  she  looked  her  companion  full 
in  the  face,  significantly  so.  "  He  's  dependent 
and  irresponsible  as  a  child  or  —  as  Steve  Arm 
strong.  They  're  helpless  both,  absolutely,  left 
to  themselves ;  and  speaking  of  that,  they  're 
both  by  themselves  now."  She  started  for  the 
motor  hastily,  again  significantly  so. 

"  Come,  please,"  she  requested. 


[  267 


CHAPTER   VI 

CRISIS 

IT  was  nearly  dark  when  the  big  red  car  drew 
up  in  front  of  the  Gleason  cottage  and,  the 
girl  only  alighting,  moved  on  again  slowly  down 
the  street.  At  the  second  crossing  beyond,  out 
of  sight  of  the  house,  it  switched  abruptly  to 
the  right  for  four  blocks,  into  the  poorer  section 
of  the  town,  and  stopped  before  a  battered,  old- 
fashioned  residence.  A  middle-aged  man  in  his 
shirt  sleeves  sat  on  the  step  smoking  a  pipe. 
At  a  nod  from  the  driver  he  advanced  to  the 
curb. 

"Mr.  Armstrong  in,  Edwards?"  asked  Rob 
erts  directly. 

The  man  shook  his  head. 

"  Been  here,  has  he?  " 

"  Not  since  he  left  this  morning ;    about  ten 
o'clock  it  was." 

Roberts  paused,  his  hand  on  the  clutch  lever. 

:'  Will  you  have  him  'phone  me  when  he  comes, 
please? " 

[  268  ] 


Crisis 

'  Yes,  certainly." 

"  Thank  you." 

The  next  stop  was  at  the  office,  dark  with  a 
Sabbath  darkness;  but  not  for  long.  Within 
the  space  of  a  few  minutes  after  he  came,  every 
light  switched  on,  the  windows  open  wide,  his 
coat  dangling  from  a  chair  in  the  corner,  Roberts 
was  at  work  upon  a  small  mountain  of  corre 
spondence  collected  upon  his  desk,  a  mountain 
of  which  each  unit  was  marked  "  personal "  or 
"  private."  At  almost  the  same  time  a  waiter 
from  a  near-by  cafe  entered  with  a  tray  of  sand 
wiches  and  coffee.  Thereafter  he  ate  as  he 
worked. 

An  hour  passed.  The  sandwiches  disappeared 
entirely  and  the  mountain  grew  slightly  smaller. 
A  second  hour  dragged  by  and  the  mountain 
suffered  a  second  decline.  For  the  first  time 
Roberts  halted  and  glanced  at  the  clock.  A 
moment  later  he  took  down  the  receiver  from 
the  'phone  on  his  desk  and  gave  a  number. 

'  That  you,  Randall?  Has  Armstrong  been 
at  your  place  to-night  ?  You  have  n't  seen  him 
at  all  to-day,  then.  No;  nothing.  Just  wanted 
to  know,  that  was  all.  Good-night." 

Another  half -hour  passed ;  then,  without  paus 
ing  in  his  work,  Roberts  pulled  the  buzzer  lever 

[  269  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

for  a  messenger.  When  the  latter  appeared  he 
scribbled .  a  few  lines  on  a  sheet  of  paper,  ad 
dressed  an  envelope,  and  gave  it  to  the  boy  with 
half  a  dollar. 

'  There  's  a  mate  to  that  coin  waiting  here 
for  you  if  you  can  get  me  an  answer  within 
half  an  hour,"  he  said.  *  You  know  the  party, 
don't  you?" 

"  Sure.    Yes,  sir." 

"  Follow  up  the  trail,  then.  You  Ve  lost  one 
minute  of  your  thirty  already." 

For  the  third  time  he  returned  to  his  work, 
halting  only  when  the  messenger  in  blue 
returned. 

"  Can't  deliver  it,  sir,"  explained  the  latter 
curtly.  "  I  Ve  been  all  over  town  and  no  one 
has  seen  him.  Thank  you,  sir.  Good-night." 

For  several  minutes  this  time  Darley  Roberts 
sat  in  his  desk  chair  thinking,  quite  motionless. 
The  clock  on  the  wall  recorded  midnight  and 
he  compared  the  time  with  his  watch  to  make 
certain  of  its  accuracy.  Once  more  he  took 
down  the  telephone  receiver. 

'  This  you,  Elice? "  he  asked  after  a  moment. 
"Can  I  be  of  service?  Never  mind,  no  need  to 
explain.  I  understand.  I  '11  be  right  up." 

In  spite  of  the  city  speed  limit  the  big  red 

[  270  ] 


Crisis 

car   made   those   twelve   blocks    intervening   in 
sixty-four  seconds  flat. 

"How  did  you  ever  know?"  —  infinite  won 
der,  infinite  relief  as  well  in  the  tone.  ;'  Tell 
me  that,  please." 

"  I  did  n't  know,  of  course.  I  merely  guessed. 
Has  it  been  long? " 

Involuntarily  the  girl  shuddered,  then  held 
herself  steady  with  an  effort. 

'  Yes,  since  dinner.  He  came  while  we  were 
eating;  and  father- 

"  I  understand,"  preventingly.  "  Don't  worry. 
It 's  all  over  with  now.  Did  any  one  else  see 
—  any  of  the  neighbors,  I  mean?" 

"  I  think  not.  It  was  after  dark  and  —  Oh, 
it 's  simply  horrible !  horrible !  " 

'  Yes,"  gently.  "I  appreciate  that.  Let 's  not 
speak  about  it.  Your  two  roomers  are  both  in?  " 

The  girl  nodded. 

'  They  didn't  suspect  anything  wrong  either?" 

"  No,  the  hammock  was  dark  —  and  father 
watched.  They  went  right  up  to  their  rooms 
without  stopping." 

Roberts  nodded,  and  looked  out  of  the  win 
dow.  The  light  in  the  residence  district  of  the 
town  was  on  a  midnight  schedule  and  was  now 

[271  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

cut  off.  He  turned  back.  A  moment  he  stood 
so,  silent,  facing  the  girl  there  in  the  dimly  lighted 
hall.  Under  a  sudden  instinct  he  reached  out 
and  laid  a  hand  compellingly  on  each  of  her 
shoulders,  holding  her  captive. 

'  You  don't  misunderstand  my  intruding  here 
to-night,  do  you,  Elice?"  he  asked  directly. 

"Misunderstand!"  The  girl  looked  at  him 
steadily,  the  dark  circles  about  her  eyes  eloquent. 
"Never.  How  can  you  fancy  such  a  thing! 
Never." 

"  And  you  're  willing  to  trust  me  to  bring 
everything  out  right?  It  will  be  all  right,  take 
my  word  for  that." 

Still  the  girl  did  not  stir,  but  gazed  at  him. 
'  Yes,  I  trust  you  implicitly,  always,"  she  said. 

A  moment  longer  the  hands  held  their  place 
before  they  dropped. 

"  All  right,  then,"  he  said  perfunctorily,  "  go 
to  bed.  I  '11  take  care  of  Steve  —  to-night  and 
in  the  future.  Don't  worry.  Good-night." 

'  Wait,"  a  hand  was  upon  his  arm,  a  com 
pelling  hand.  '  You  mean  - 

Roberts  smiled  deliberately,  his  slow,  imper 
sonal  smile. 

:'  Exactly  what  I  said.  This  will  be  a  lesson 
Steve  should  never  forget.  I  can't  imagine  his 

[  272  ] 


Crisis 

repeating  it  —  ever.  Besides,  I  'H  help  him  not 
to.  I  have  a  plan." 

'You  mean  to  help  him  as  —  as  you  helped 
Harry  Randall  and  Margery? " 

A  moment  the  man  was  silent,  though  he 
smiled. 

"  No,  not  exactly.  I  '11  merely  assist  him  to 
help  himself.  I  think  perhaps  it 's  only  my  duty 
anyway,  that  maybe  I  'm  more  or  lees  respon 
sible.  By  the  way,  don't  be  surprised  if  he  dis 
appears  for  a  bit.  He  may  possibly  decide  to 
go  out  of  town.  That 's  all,  for  now." 

'The  girl  drew  a  long  breath. 

"You  responsible!"  she  echoed.  "If  you're 
responsible,  how,  then,  about  —  myself?" 

"Elice!"  Roberts  cut  her  off  peremptorily. 
"  I  refuse  to  listen.  Go  to  bed  at  once,  I  in 
sist.  I  '11  come  to-morrow  and  talk  if  you  wish. 
Just  now  it 's  all  too  near.  Good-night  again." 

An  instant  later,  on  the  darkened  porch  with 
out,  he  had  the  arm  of  the  doddering  old  man 
in  the  grip  of  a  vise. 

''  Leave  everything  here  to  me,"  he  said 
swiftly,  "  and  see  to  Elice."  He  was  leading 
the  other  toward  the  entrance.  "  Listen.  See 
that  she  goes  to  bed  —  at  once ;  and  you  too. 
I  '11  attend  to  everything  else.  Trust  me,"  and 

18  [  273  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

very  gently  he  himself  closed  the  door  behind 
the  other  two. 

It  was  after  office  hours  of  the  day  following 
when  Stephen  Armstrong,  a  bit  pale  but  care 
fully  groomed  this  time,  entered  the  outer  room 
of  Darley  Roberts'  office  and,  with  decided  re 
luctance,  approached  the  private  apartment 
beyond.  The  door  was  open.  Seated  before 
the  big  desk,  shirt-sleeved  as  usual,  Roberts 
sat  working.  As  the  newcomer  approached  he 
wheeled  about. 

"  Come  in,"  he  said  simply.  "  I  'm  glad  to 
see  you." 

The  visitor  took  a  seat  by  the  open  window 
and  looked  out  rather  obviously. 

;<  I  just  received  your  note  a  bit  ago,"  he 
began  perfunctorily,  "  and  called  instead  of  giv 
ing  you  an  appointment,  as  you  asked.  It 's 
the  least  I  could  do  after  last  night."  He 
halted,  looking  at  the  building  opposite  steadily. 
"  I  want  you  to  know  that  I  appreciate  thor 
oughly  what  you  did  for  me  then.  I  —  I  'm 
heartily  ashamed,  of  course." 

"  Don't  speak  of  it,  please,"  swiftly.  "  I  Ve 
forgotten  it  and  I  'm  sure  Miss  Gleason  and  her 
father  have  done  the  same.  No  one  else  knows, 
so  let 's  consider  it  never  occurred.  It  never 

[274] 


Crisis 

will  again,  I  'm  sure,  so  what 's  the  use  of  re 
membering?     Is  it  agreed?" 

Armstrong's  narrow  shoulders  lifted  in  silence. 

"  As  for  not  speaking  of  it  again,"  he  an 
swered  after  a  moment,  "  yes.  Whether  or  not 
in  the  future,  however  —  I  'm  not  liar  enough 
to  promise  things  I  can't  deliver." 

"  But  you  can  '  deliver,'  as  you  say,"  shortly. 
'  You  know  it  yourself." 

Armstrong  shook  his  head. 

"  I  'm  not  as  bumptious  as  I  was  a  few  years 
ago,"  he  commented.  :'  I  'd  have  said  *  yes  ' 
th'en  undoubtedly.  Now  —  I  don't  know." 

Roberts  swung  about  in  his  desk  chair,  the 
crease  between  his  eyes  suddenly  grown  deep. 

"  Nonsense,"  he  refuted  curtly.  '  You  're  not 
the  first  man  in  the  world  who  has  done  some 
thing  to  regret.  Every  one  has  in  some  way 
or  another  —  and  profited  by  the  experience. 
It 's  forgotten  already,  I  say,  man.  Let  it  pass 
at  that,  and  go  ahead  as  though  nothing  had 
happened.  By  the  way,  have  you  had  supper 
—  or  do  you  call  it  dinner? " 

For  the  first  time  Armstrong  looked  at  the 
speaker  and,  forgetting  for  the  instant,  he  al 
most  smiled.  The  question  was  characteristic. 

"  I  Ve  already  dined,  thank  you,"  he  said, 
f  275  1 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Without  comment  Roberts  called  up  the  cafe 
and  ordered  delivered  his  customary  busy-day 
lunch  of  sandwiches  and  coffee. 

"  I  'm  going  East  on  the  eleven-fifty  limited 
to-night,"  he  explained,  "  and  there  are  several 
things  I  Ve  got  to  see  to  first."  In  voluntary 
relaxation  from  work  he  slipped  down  in  the  big 
chair  until  his  head  rested  on  the  back.  There 
after  for  a  long  time,  for  longer  doubtless  than 
he  realized,  he  sat  so,  looking  at  the  other  man; 
not  rudely  or  unpleasantly,  but  with  the  old, 
absent,  analytical  expression  large  upon  his  face. 
At  last  he  roused. 

"  I  suppose,"  he  began  abruptly,  "  you  're  won 
dering  what  it  is  I  wish  to  speak  with  you  about. 
I  '11  explain  in  advance  that  it 's  of  your  per 
sonal  affairs  purely,  nothing  else.  Would  you 
prefer  me  not  to  intrude? " 

For  a  moment  Armstrong  did  not  answer, 
but  with  an  effort  he  looked  at  the  questioner 
directly. 

'  If  it  were  a  couple  of  days  back,"  he  said, 
"  I  should  have  answered  '  yes  '  emphatically. 
Now  -  '  his  glance  wandered  out  the  window, 
resting  on  the  brick  wall  opposite,  "  now  I 
hardly  know.  You  Ve  earned  a  sort  of  right 
to  wield  the  probe ;  and  besides  - 

[  276  ] 


Crisis 

"  Never  mind  the  right,"  shortly.  "  I  tell 
you  last  night  is  forgotten.  I  meant  to  see  you 
and  have  the  same  talk  anyway  —  with  your 
permission." 

Still  Armstrong  hesitated,  looking  steadily 
away.  '  You  Ve  condoned  the  fact,  then,  that 
I  Ve  cut  you  dead  on  the  street  regularly?  " 

"  I  understood  —  and  did  n't  blame  you. 
There  are  dozens  of  people  who  know  Old  Man 
Roberts  and  still  never  see  him  when  passing 
face  to  face.  It 's  all  in  the  game." 

At  last  Armstrong's  glance  returned,  almost 
with  wonder.  "  And  you  don't  lay  it  up  against 
them?  " 

"  Sometimes.  Usually,  however,  not.  Life  's 
too  short  to  play  with  toys;  and  enmities  are 
toys^ —  double-edged  ones  at  that.  You  have  n't 
answered  my  question  yet." 

"  I  know;  but  just  a  moment  more.  Do  you 
recall,  by  the  way,  a  prophecy  I  made  once, 
years  ago? " 

'Yes;  it  never  came  true  as  far  as  I  am 
concerned." 

"  Perhaps  you  never  had  cause  to  have  it  do 
so." 

"  Possibly." 

"  With  me  it  did  come  about.    I  Ve  hated  you 

[  277  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

ever  since  —  from  the  day  you  left.     Do  you 

realize  why  I  have  n't  answered  your  question?  " 

'  Yes,  why  you  have  n't.     I  'm  still  waiting." 

"  I  'm  wondering,"  mused  Armstrong,  "  why 

I  don't  hate  you,  now  that  we  're  here  together. 

I  've  thought  a  lot  of  bitter  things  about  you, 

more  than  about  any  one  in  the  world.     I  don't 

know  why  I  don't  say  them  now  that  I  Ve  got 

the  chance." 

'  Yes,  you  have  the  chance.  I  'm  listening." 
"  I  know."  Armstrong's  long  fingers  were 
twitching  nervously.  Despite  an  effort  to  pre 
vent  his  lower  lip  trembled  in  sympathy.  "  And 
still,  now  that  for  the  first  time  I  have  the 
chance,  I  can't.  I  don't  want  to.  I  -  Of  a 
sudden  an  uncontrollable  moisture  came  into  his 
eyes,  and  he  shifted  about  abruptly  until  hi%  face 
was  hid.  "Damn  you,  Darley  Roberts!"  he 
stormed  inadequately,  "  I  don't  want  to  a  bit, 
but  after  all  I  trust  you  and  —  and  like  you. 
You  have  my  permission  to  intrude.  I  want 
you  to,  have  wanted  you  to  a  hundred  times." 
The  Rubicon  was  crossed  at  last  and  he  made 
the  admission  that  for  long  had  trembled  on  his 
tongue.  "  Somehow  I  can't  get  along  without 
you  and  keep  my  nerve.  I  think  you  're  the 
only  person  in  the  world  who  even  in  a  measure 

[  278  ] 


"You  mean  to   suggest  that  Elice,"   he  began,  "that 
Elice—       You  dare  to  suggest  that  to  me?" 

[Page  107} 


Crisis 

understands  me,  and  can  maybe  make  a  man  of 
me  again." 

In  his  place  Darley  Roberts  sat  looking  at  the 
other,  merely  looking  at  him.  The  silence  grew 
embarrassing,  lasted  into  minutes;  but  still  un 
consciously  he  remained  as  he  was.  At  last  sud 
denly  his  eyes  dropped  and  simultaneously  the 
ringers  of  his  big  hands  twitched  in  a  way  that 
heralded  action.  Whatever  the  problem  of  that 
period  of  silence  decision  had  come. 

"  I  think  I  understand  what  you  mean,"  he 
said  deliberately.  "  Perhaps,  too,  it 's  true.  I 
doh't  know.  Anyway  I  '11  try  to  play  the 
game  —  try  to."  He  remembered,  and  the 
hands  lay  still.  "  By  the  way,  you  're  not  work 
ing  now? " 

"  No." 

"Have  you  anything  definite  in  sight?" 

Despite  the  permission  he  had  granted  but  a 
moment  before  Armstrong  colored;  with  an 
effort  he  met  his  questioner  frankly. 

"  No,"  again. 

'  That 's  good.  It  occurred  to  me  that  it 
might  clear  the  atmosphere  here  a  bit  if  you 
went  away  for  a  time.  What  do  you  say  to 
McLean's  for  a  couple  of  weeks?" 

On  Armstrong's   face  the  red  of  a  moment 

[  279  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

ago  changed  to  white,  a  white  which  spread  to 
his  very  lips. 

"And  take  the  cure,  you  mean!  Do  you 
think,  really,  it's  as  bad  with  me  as  that?" 

"No,"  bluntly;  "I'd  have  said  so  if  I  had. 
But  just  because  you  might  not  contract  pneu 
monia  is  no  reason  for  not  wearing  an  overcoat 
when  the  thermometer  is  at  zero.  I  'd  go  if  I 
were  you,  just  as  I  'd  be  vaccinated  if  there  was 
an  epidemic  of  small-pox  prevalent." 

'  But  the  admission!    A  confirmed  alcoholic!  " 

"  Confirmed  nothing.  Your  going  is  no  one's 
business  but  your  own.  The  place  is  a  general 
sanatorium ;  it 's  advertised  so.  Anyway  you  will 
have  good  company.  The  biggest  bondholder  in 
the  Traction  Company  is  there  now.  Do  you 
happen  to  have  the  money  that  you  '11  need 
convenient? " 

"  No.  That 's  another  rub;  and  besides  —  on 
the  square,  Darley,  I  don't  need  to  do  that  — 
yet.  I  know  after  last  night  things  look  bad; 
but  —  " 

"  I  understand  perfectly.  Let 's  not  waste 
ammunition  on  a  man  of  straw.  The  change 
will  do  you  good,  though,  anyway.  I  'd  go  my 
self  for  the  sake  of  that  big  marble  plunge  if 
I  could  spare  the  time."  He  was  writing  a 

[  280  ] 


Crisis 

check  swiftly.  "  Pay  it  back  when  something 
drops,"  he  proffered;  "there  will  be  something 
develop  soon  —  there  always  is.  By  the  way, 
why  not  go  along  with  me  to-night  ?  It 's  on 
the  same  road." 

Armstrong  accepted  the  slip  of  paper  mechan 
ically;  a  real  moisture  came  into  his  eyes,  and 
he  held  it  back  at  arm's  length. 

"  Darley,  confound  you,"  he  protested,  "  I 
can't  accept  that.  I  simply  can't!" 

"  Can't  —  why?  It 's  good.  Try  it  anywhere 
down  town." 

"You  know  I  don't  mean  that;  but- 

"  Yes  —  '  The  big  fingers  were  twitching 
ominously. 

"  But  after  —  what 's  past  — 

"  Would  n't  you  make  me  a  loan  if  positions 
were  reversed? "  shortly. 

"  Yes,  certainly ;   but  — 

"  Forget  it,  then."  Roberts  turned  back  to  his 
desk  abruptly.  "  Pardon  me  if  I  go  on  work 
ing.  I  've  simply  got  to  clear  this  desk  before 
I  go."  He  waited  in  silence  until  the  other  man 
started  to  leave;  just  as  Armstrong  reached  the 
door  he  wheeled  about. 

'  You  '11  be  with  me  at  eleven-fifty  sure,  won't 
you? "  he  asked  directly. 

[281  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Armstrong  hesitated,  his  eyes  averted. 

*  Yes,"  he  said  at  last. 

"  Good.  I  '11  attend  to  the  reservations  for 
both  of  us.  Travel  East  is  light  now  and  we  '11 
have  things  practically  to  ourselves.  There  are 
a  number  of  other  things  I  wish  to  talk  with 
you  about  —  and  we  '11  have  all  night  to  do  it 
in.  I  suppose  you  '11  see  Elice  this  evening? " 

Again  Armstrong  colored.  '  Yes,"  he  re 
peated  uncertainly. 

"  Tell  her,  please,  for  me  that  I  '11  be  out  of 
town  for  about  three  weeks.  Meanwhile  the  car 
is  subject  to  her  order.  I  left  directions  at  the 
garage.  If  it 's  convenient  for  you  to  happen 
around  this  way  about  train  time  there  '11  be  a 
cab  waiting.  Good-bye  until  then." 

For  two  hours  thereafter  Roberts  worked 
steadily  —  until  every  scrap  of  correspondence 
on  the  desk  had  been  answered  or  bore  memo 
randa  for  the  instruction  of  the  stenographer  on 
the  morrow.  At  last  he  took  down  the  'phone. 

"Randall?  There'll  be  a  carriage  call  for 
my  baggage  shortly.  It 's  all  ready.  Thanks. 
By  the  way,  have  you  that  manuscript  handy 
I  spoke  to  you  once  about?  All  right.  Tuck 
it  in  somewhere  while  you  think  of  it,  please. 
You  're  still  of  the  same  opinion,  that  it 's  good ; 

[  282  ] 


Crisis 

at  least  worth  a  hearing  ?  Very  well.  It  '11  be 
published  then.  I  'm  accepting  your  judgment. 
Never  mind  how.  This  is  between  you  and 
me  absolutely.  I  'm  not  to  figure  —  ever.  If 
it  goes  flat  he  '11  have  had  his  chance.  That 's 
all  any  of  us  can  have.  By  the  way,  again. 
I  'm  sorry  to  miss  Mrs.  Randall's  dinner-party. 
I  'm  not  often  honored  in  that  way.  Anyway, 
though,  perhaps  it 's  as  well.  I  'm  impossible 
socially;  and,  fortunately,  I  know  just  enough 
to  realize  it.  Yes;  that's  all.  Good-night." 

Thereafter  he  waited  until  he  got  "  Central " 
on 'the  wire. 

"  Call  me  at  eleven-thirty,"  he  requested. 
"  I  '11  be  asleep,  so  ring  me  long  and  loud. 
Eleven-thirty  sharp,  remember,  please." 

He  hung  up  the  instrument  with  a  gesture 
of  relief  and  leaned  back  in  his  chair,  his  great 
bushy  head  against  the  bare  oak,  his  big  hands 
loose  in  his  lap.  A  half -minute  perhaps  he  sat 
so  —  until  the  eyes  slowly  closed  and,  true  to 
his  word,  and  swiftly  as  a  child  at  close  of  day, 
he  fell  asleep. 

At  eleven  o'clock  the  watchman  of  the  build 
ing,  noticing  the  light,  came  to  investigate.  A 
moment  he  stood  in  the  open  door,  an  appre 
ciative  observer.  On  tiptoe  he  moved  away. 

[  283  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  Some   one 's  paying   good  and  plenty   for 
this,"  he  commented  sotto  voce  and  with  a  know 
ing  wag  of  the  head.      '  The  old  man  's  all  in 
-  and  he  is  n't  doing  it  for  his  health  alone, 
you  bet!" 


[  284  ] 


CHAPTER   VII 

TRAVESTY 

OUT  in  the  street,  in  front  of  the  Gleason 
cottage,  the  red  car  glistened  in  the  moon 
light.  In  the  shade  of  the  familiar  veranda 
Roberts  tossed  his  gauntlets  and  cap  on  the  floor 
and  drew  forth  two  wicker  rocking-chairs  where 
they  would  catch  the  slight  midsummer  night 
wind. 

"  Hottest  night  of  the  season,  I  fancy,"  he 
commented,  as  he  helped  his  companion  remove 
her  dust  coat  and  waited  thereafter  until  she 
was  seated  before  he  took  the  place  by  her  side. 
"  Old  Reliable  number  two  certainly  did  us  a 
good  turn  this  evening.  Runs  like  an  advertise 
ment,  does  n't  it? " 

It  was  a  minute  before  the  girl  answered. 

'  Yes.    It  sounds  cheap  to  say  so,  but  at  times, 

like  to-night,  it  almost  seems  to  me  Paradise. 

It  makes  one  forget,  temporarily,  the  things  one 

wishes  to  forget." 

"  Yes,"  said  her  companion. 
[  285  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

;<  I  suppose  people  who  have  been  accustomed 
to  luxuries  all  their  lives  don't  think  of  it  at 
all ;  but  others  -  She  was  silent. 

'  Yes,"  said  Roberts  again,  "  I  think  I  un 
derstand.  It 's  the  one  compensation  for  being 
hungry  a  long  time,  I  suppose;  the  added  en 
joyment  of  the  delayed  meal  when  at  last  it  is 
served.  At  least  that 's  what  those  who  never 
went  hungry  say.  I  hope  you  '11  get  a  lot  of 
pleasure  out  of  the  machine  this  Summer." 

The  girl  looked  at  him  quickly. 

'  I?    Are  you  going  away  again?  " 

'  Yes.  I  start  West  to-morrow.  Things  are 
moving  faster  than  I  expected." 

"And  you  won't  take  the  car  with  you?" 

"  No,  I  shan't  play  again  for  a  time.  I  al 
ways  had  a  theory  that  a  man  should  know  a 
business  he  conducts,  not  take  some  one  else's 
word  for  it.  I  'm  going  to  put  on  my  cordu 
roys  and  live  with  that  mine  until  it  grows  up. 
I  don't  even  know  how  long  that  will  be.  la 
a  way  to-night  is  good-bye." 

The  girl  said  nothing  this  time. 

"  I  meant  what  I  said,  though,  in  regard  to 
the  car,"  returned  Roberts.  "  I  shall  be  disap 
pointed  if  you  don't  use  it  a  lot.  I  Ve  always 
felt  as  though  it  sort  of  belonged  to  us  together, 

[  286  ] 


Travesty 

we  Ve  had  such  a  lot  of  pleasure  out  of  it  in 
common.  They  tell  me  at  the  garage  that  while 
I  was  away  last  time  it  was  n't  out  at  all. 
Didn't  Steve  deliver  my  message?" 

"  Yes." 

;'  Won't  you  promise  to  do  differently  the  rest 
of  the  season? " 

Again  the  girl  paused  before  she  answered. 

"  No,"  she  said  then.  "  You  understand 
why?" 

"  Not  if  I  request  otherwise? " 

"  Don't  request  it,  please,"  swiftly,  "  as  a 
favor.  I  repeat,  you  understand." 

"  Understand,  certainly,  what  you  mean  to 
imply."  The  big  hands  on  the  man's  knees 
drooped  a  little  wearily.  '  You  don't  trust  me 
wholly,  even  yet,  do  you,  Elice? "  he  added 
abruptly. 

"  Trust  you!    That 's  a  bit  cruel." 

The  man  shifted  in  his  seat  unconsciously. 

"  If  it  was  I  beg  your  pardon,"  he  said  gently. 
"  I  did  n't  intend  it  so.  I  suppose  I  'm  wrong; 
but  what  others,  mere  observers,  say  seems  to 
me  so  trivial.  The  gossip  of  people  who  'd  knife 
you  without  compunction  the  instant  your  back 
was  turned  for  their  own  gratification  or  gain 
—  to  let  them  judge  and  sentence  —  pardon 

[  287  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

me  once  more.  I  shan't  mention  the  matter 
again." 

The  girl  looked  steadily  out  into  the  night, 
almost  as  though  its  peace  were  hers.  '  Yes," 
she  returned,  "  you  are  wrong  —  but  in  a  dif 
ferent  way  than  you  intimated.  It  is  n't  what 
others  would  say  at  all  that  prevents  my  accept 
ing,  but  my  own  judgment  of  myself.  You  Ve 
done  so  many  things  for  me ;  and  I  in  return  — 
I  'm  never  able  to  do  anything  whatever.  It 's 
a  matter  of  self-respect  wholly.  One  can't  ac 
cept,  and  accept,  and  accept  always  —  in  the 
certainty  of  remaining  permanently  in  debt." 

The  man  looked  at  her  oddly.  Then  he  glanced 
away. 

"  No ;   I  suppose  not,"  he  acquiesced. 

'If  there  were  anything  I  could  do  for  you 
in  turn  to  make  up  even  partially ;  but  you  're 
so  big  and  independent  and  self-sufficient  —  " 

"Self-sufficient!"  Roberts  caught  the  domi 
nant  word  and  dwelt  on  it  meditatively.  "  I 
suppose  I  am  that  way.  It  never  occurred  to 
me  before."  The  big  hands  tightened  suddenly, 
their  weariness  gone.  "  But  let 's  forget  it,"  he 
digressed  energetically.  '  This  is  the  last  time 
I  '11  see  you  for  a  long  time,  months  at  least ; 
and  a  lot  can  happen  in  months  sometimes.  The 

[  288  ] 


Travesty 

future  is  the  Lord's,  but  the  present  is  ours. 
Let 's  enjoy  it  while  we  may.  What,  by  the 
way,  are  you  going  to  do  the  remainder  of  the 
Summer? " 

"Do?"  The  girl  laughed  shortly.  "What 
I  'm  doing  now,  I  fancy,  mostly.  Father  will 
be  away  the  first  week  in  September.  I  prom 
ised  Margery  I  'd  stay  with  her  during  that 
time;  otherwise —  A  gesture  completed  the 
sentence. 

Roberts  looked  at  her  oddly.  "  Is  that  what 
you  want  to  do  —  you?"  he  asked  bluntly. 

'"  Want  to  do?  "  Again  the  laugh.  "  What 
does  it  matter  what  I  want  to  do?  "  She  caught 
herself  suddenly.  "  Margery  and  I  may  go 
away  to  a  lake  somewhere  during  that  week," 
she  completed. 

"And  after  that?"  suggested  the  man. 

;'  The  university  will  be  open  then.  I  Ve  se 
cured  a  place  this  year,  —  assistant  in  English." 

"You're  really  serious,  Elice?"  soberly. 
"  This  is  news  to  me,  you  know.  You  really 
purpose  teaching  in  future? " 

'  Yes."     She  returned  her  companion's  look 
steadily.     "  Father  was  not  reappointed  for  the 
coming  session.     He 's  over  the  age  line,     I 
supposed  you  knew." 
w  [  289  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"No;  I  didn't  know  before."  Without  ap 
parent  reason  Roberts  stood  up.  The  great 
hands  were  working  again.  A  moment  he  stood 
there  so,  the  big  bushy  head  outlined  distinctly 
against  the  starlit  sky;  with  equal  abruptness 
he  returned  to  his  seat. 

'  What  a  farce  this  is  you  and  I  are  play 
ing,"  he  said.  "  Do  you  really  wish  it  to  go 
on  longer? " 

The  girl  did  not  look  at  him,  did  not  move. 

"  Farce?  "  she  echoed. 

The  man  gestured  swiftly. 

"  Don't  do  that,  please,"  he  prevented.  '  You 
and  I  know  each  other  entirely  too  well  to  pre 
tend.  I  repeat,  do  you  wish  this  travesty  to 
go  on  indefinitely?  If  you  do  I  accept,  of 
course  —  but  —  do  you?  " 

Instinctively,  as  on  a  former  occasion,  the 
girl  drew  her  chair  farther  back  on  the  porch, 
until  her  face  was  in  the  shadow.  It  was  out 
of  the  shadow  that  she  spoke. 

"Prefer  it  to  go  on?  Yes,"  she  said;  "be 
cause  I  wish  you  to  remain  as  you  are  now.  But 
really  wish  it,  no ;  because  it 's  unfair,  wholly 
unfair." 

"Unfair  to  me?" 

"  Yes,  to  you." 

[  290  ] 


Travesty 

For  the  second  time  Roberts  gestured.  "  Take 
that  consideration  out  of  the  discussion  abso 
lutely,  please,"  he  said.  '  With  that  under 
standing  do  you  still  wish  this  pretence  to  go 
on?" 

"  I  wish  to  keep  your  friendship." 

"My  friendship  —  nothing  more?  I'm  bru 
tally  blunt,  I  realize;  but  I  can't  let  to-night, 
this  last  night,  go  by  without  knowing  some 
thing  of  how  you  feel.  You  never  have  given 
me  even  so  much  as  a  hint,  you  know.  I  Ve 
waited  patiently,  I  think,  for  you  to  select  the 
moment  for  confidence ;  but  you  avoid  it  always ; 
and  to-morrow  at  this  time  -  You  know  I 
love  you,  Elice.  Knowing  that,  do  you  still  wish 
me  to  go  away  pretending  merely  polite  friend 
ship?  Do  you  wish  it  to  be  that  way,  Elice? " 

The  girl  ignored  the  question,  ignored  all  ex 
cept  the  dominant  statement. 

'  Yes,  I  know  you  love  me,"  she  echoed. 
'  You  told  me  so  once  before." 

"Once!  A  thousand  times;  you  understood 
the  language.  It  seems  foolish  even  to  reiterate 
the  fact  now.  And  yet  you  Ve  never  answered." 

"  I  know.    I  said  it  was  unfair;  and  still - 

'  You  won't  answer  even  yet." 

"  I  can't.    I  'm  drifting  and  waiting  for  light. 

[291  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Don't  misunderstand ;  that  is  n't  religion  —  I  've 
not  been  to  church  in  a  year,  or  said  a  prayer. 
It  is  n't  that  at  all.  I  simply  don't  want  to  hate 
myself,  or  be  hated  by  another  justly  later." 

"  And  you  expect  to  drift  on  until  that  light 
comes? " 

A  halt,  long  enough  for  second  thought  or 
renewal  of  a  decision.  "  I  can't  do  otherwise. 
There  's  no  other  way.  It 's  inevitable." 

'  Inevitable ! '  Roberts  shrugged  impa 
tiently.  "  I  don't  like  the  word.  It  belongs  in 
the  same  class  with  '  chance '  and  '  predestina 
tion  '  and  *  luck.'  There  are  few  things  inevit 
able  except  death." 

'  This  is  one  —  that  I  must  wait." 

"  And  you  can't  even  take  me  into  your  confi 
dence,  about  the  reason  why?  Mind,  I  don't 
ask  it  unless  you  voluntarily  desire.  I  merely 
suggest." 

"  No,"  steadily;  "  I  can't  tell  you  the  reason. 
I  Ve  got  to  decide  for  myself  -  -  when  light 
comes." 

Roberts'  great  shoulders  squared  significantly. 

"  But  if  I  know  it  already,"  he  suggested 
evenly,  "what  then?" 

No  answer,  although  the  other  waited  half  a 
minute. 

[  292  ] 


Travesty 

"  I  repeat:  what  if  I  know  it  already?  " 

"  Do  you  know?  " 

Roberts'  glance  wandered  into  the  shadow 
where  the  girl  was,  then  returned  slowly  to  the 
street  and  the  red  car. 

"  I  rode  East  with  Steve  Armstrong,"  he  said, 
"  as  far  as  he  went.  I  also  wired  him  when  I  was 
coming,  and  we  returned  together.  He  told  me, 
I  think,  everything  —  except  about  your  father. 
He  forgot  that,  if  he  knew.  Do  you  doubt  I 
know  the  reason,  Elice?  " 

Out  of  the  shadow  came  the  girl's  face,  —  the 
face  only. 

'  You  did  this  for  Stephen  Armstrong  —  after 
what  is  past!  Why?" 

"  Because  life  is  short  and  I  wanted  to  know 
several  things  before  I  came  to-night.  Would 
you  like  to  hear  what  it  was  I  wished  to  learn?  " 

Again  the  face  vanished. 

'  Yes,"  said  a  voice. 

'  You  know  already,  so  it  won't  be  news.  One 
was  that  he  still  cares  for  you  —  as  always.  He 
perjured  himself  once,  because  he  thought  it  was 
his  duty;  but  he  has  never  ceased  to  care.  The 
other  thing  was  that  he  's  changed  his  mind  and 
is  going  back  to  his  literary  work.  His  novel, 
that  was  accepted  tentatively,  will  be  published 

[  293  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

next  Winter.  What  else  I  learned  is  immate 
rial.  I  don't  often  venture  a  prediction,  but  in 
his  case  I  '11  make  the  exception.  I  believe  that 
this  time  he  '11  make  good.  He  has  the  incentive 
-  and  experience.  Do  you  still  doubt  I  know 
the  reason,  Elice? " 

"  No.    But  that  you  should  teU  me  this!  " 

"  I  claim  no  virtue.  You  knew  it  already. 
I  'm  merely  attempting  to  simplify  —  to  aid  the 
coming  of  the  light." 

For  the  second  time  out  of  the  shadow  came 
the  girl's  face,  her  whole  figure.  "  Darley  Rob 
erts,"  asked  a  voice,  "  are  you  human,  or  are  n't 
you?  I  don't  believe  another  man  in  the  world 
would,  under  like  circumstances,  do  as  you  have 
done  by  Steve  Armstrong.  I  can't  believe  you 
human  merely." 

The  man  smiled  oddly;  the  look  passed. 

"  I  have  merely  played  the  game  fair,"  he 
explained  dispassionately,  "  or  tried  to,  accord 
ing  to  my  standard.  Like  yourself,  I  don't  want 
to  hate  myself  in  the  future,  whatever  comes. 
The  hate  of  others  —  I  'm  indifferent  to  that, 
Elice." 

"  And  still  you  love  me." 

"  I  shall  never  care  for  another,  never.  The 
time  when  I  could,  if  it  ever  existed,  is  past." 

[  294  ] 


Travesty 

The  white  hands  dropped  helplessly  into  the 
girl's  lap. 

"  I  thought  I  understood  you,"  she  said,  "  and 
yet,  after  all  - 

'  We  live  but  once,"  gently.  "  I  wish  you  to 
be  happy,  the  happiest  possible.  Does  that  help?" 

'  Yes,  but  —  In  a  panic  the  face,  the  hands, 
retreated  back  into  the  shadow  again.  "  Oh, 
I  'm  afraid  of  you  once  more,  afraid  of  you,"  she 
completed. 

A  moment  the  man  sat  still;  then  came  his 
unexpected  deliberate  smile. 

'"No;  not  afraid.  I  repeat  you  know  me  ab 
solutely,  and  we  're  never  afraid  of  things  we 
know.  I  explained  once  before  that  that 's  why 
I  went  through  the  detail  of  telling  you  every 
thing.  You  're  not  afraid  of  me  in  the  least,  any 
more  than  I  am  afraid  of  you." 

"No?" 

The  smile  still  held. 

"  No." 

"And  still - 

"  I  repeat,  it  is  n't  fear  of  me  that  prevents 
your  answering."  Like  a  flash  the  smile  van 
ished.  Simultaneously  the  voice  dropped  until 
it  was  very  low,  yet  very  steady.  '  You  love  me 
in  return,  Elice,  girl.  It  isn't  that!" 

[  295  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

From  the  darkness  silence,  just  silence. 

"  I  say,  you  love  me  in  return.  Can  you 
deny  it?" 

Still  not  an  answering  sound  nor  a  motion. 

Roberts  drew  a  long  breath.  His  big  eloquent 
hands  hung  free.  "  Shall  I  put  in  words  the  exact 
reason  you  won't  answer,  to  prove  I  know? "  he 
asked. 

'  Yes."    The  voice  was  just  audible. 

A  moment  Roberts  paused.  "  It 's  because 
you  are  afraid,  not  of  me,  but  of  Steve  Arm 
strong:  afraid  of  the  way  the  Lord  fashioned 
him.  Elice,  come  out  into  the  light,  please.  We 
must  face  this  thing.  You  're  not  his  mother, 
and  you  don't  love  him  otherwise.  Tell  me, 
is  a  sentiment  dead  greater  than  one  living? 
Will  you,  must  you,  sacrifice  the  happiness  of 
two  for  the  happiness  of  one?  Answer  me, 
please." 

An  instant  the  girl  hesitated;  obediently  she 
came  out  into  the  light,  stood  there  so,  her  hand 
on  the  pillar  of  the  porch.  She  did  not  glance 
at  her  companion,  did  not  dare  to  do  so. 

"  I  repeat,  I  can't  answer  you  yet,"  she  said 
simply.  "  It 's  bitter,  cruel  to  you,  I  know,  and 
to  myself;  but  it  would  be  infinitely  worse  if  — 
if  I  made  a  mistake."  She  paused,  while  a  rest- 

[  296  ] 


Travesty 

less  hand  swept  across  her  face.  "  I  can't  help 
feeling  that  I  'm  to  blame  a  good  deal  al 
ready,  that  if  I  had  n't  changed,  and  shown  the 
change  —  She  sat  down  helplessly,  the  sen 
tence  incomplete.  "  Oh,  I  can't  bear  to  think  of 
it.  It  drives  me  mad.  To  feel  you  have  the  re 
sponsibility  of  another's  very  soul  on  your  hands, 
and  to  have  failed  in  that  trust  - 

"Elice!" 

"  Don't  stop  me.  It 's  true.  If  I  had  married 
him  years  ago  when  he  first  wished  me  to  do  so 
he  'd  never  have  gone  down.  I  cared  for  him 
then*,  or  fancied  I  did  so;  and  I  could  have  held 
him  up.  But  instead  —  " 

"Elice!  I  won't  listen.  You 're  morbid  and 
see  ghosts  where  nothing  exists.  You  're  no  more 
to  blame  for  being  human  and  awakening  than 
lightning  is  to  blame  when  it  strikes."  He  stood 
up,  suddenly.  "  Besides,  the  past  is  dead.  To 
attempt  to  revive  it  is  useless.  The  future  alone 
matters ;  and  it 's  that  I  wish  to  talk  about.  I 
can't  bear  to  think  of  going  away  and  leaving 
you  as  you  are  now.  It 's  preposterous.  If  you 
cared  for  Steve  I  should  n't  insist  for  a  moment, 
or  trouble  you  again  so  long  as  I  lived;  but  you 
don't  care  for  him."  He  took  a  step  forward, 
and  stopped  where  she  must  look  him  in  the  face. 

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The  Dominant  Dollar 

'  You  don't  care  for  him,  that  way,  do  you, 
Elice?  "  he  asked. 

Straight  in  the  eyes  the  girl  answered  his  look. 
But  the  lips  spoke  nothing. 

"  And  you  do  love  me,  love  me,  don't  you, 
girl?" 

Still  not  a  word ;  only  that  same  steady  look. 

"  Elice,"  -  the  man's  hands  were  on  her  shoul 
ders,  holding  her  immovable,  —  "  answer  me. 
This  is  unbearable.  Don't  you  love  me?  Say  it. 
I  must  know." 

Bit  by  bit  the  long  lashes  dropped,  until 
the  dark  eyes  were  hid.  "  I  can't  say  it  yet," 
she  said,  "  you  know  that.  Don't  compel  me 
to." 

"  Cannot  or  wiU  not?  " 

Still  no  answer,  merely  silence. 

Just  noticeably  the  man's  big  hands  tightened 
their  grip.  "  I  can  make  you  very  happy,  Elice, 
girl,"  he  voiced  swiftly;  "  I  know  it;  because  I 
have  the  ability  and  I  love  you.  I  '11  take  you 
away,  to  any  place  in  the  world  you  wish  to  go, 
stay  as  long  as  you  wish,  do  whatever  you  choose. 
I  '11  give  you  anything  you  want,  anything  you 
ever  wanted.  I  have  the  power  to  do  this  now, 
and  I  '11  have  more  power  in  future.  Nothing 
can  stop  me  now  or  prevent,  except  death  alone. 

[  298  ] 


Travesty 

Say  the  word  and  I  '11  not  go  West  to-morrow. 
Instead,  we  '11  begin  to  live.  We  're  both  starved 
for  the  good  things  that  life  has  to  offer.  We  '11 
eat  our  fill  together,  if  you  but  say  the  word. 
We  Ve  wasted  years  —  both  of  us,  long,  precious 
years.  There  's  a  big,  big  debt  owing  us ;  but 
at  last,  at  last  - 

"Barley  Roberts!" 

The  man  suddenly  halted,  passive. 

'  You  don't  realize  what  you  're  doing,  what 
you  're  saying.  It 's  unworthy  of  you." 

A  moment  longer  the  grip  of  the  big  hands 
still  'clung  as  it  was.  They  dropped,  and  the 
man  drew  back. 

"  Unworthy? "  He  looked  at  her  steadily. 
"  Can  you  fancy  I  was  trying  to  —  buy  you?  I 
thought  you  realized  I  love  you." 

"  I  do.  But  —  you  're  only  making  it  harder 
for  me  —  to  do  right." 

"Do  right?"  Once  more  the  echo.  "Right!" 
He  laughed,  as  his  companion  had  never  before 
heard  him  laugh.  "  I  wonder  if  it  is  right  to 
make  a  certain  cripple  of  one  human  being  on 
the  chance  of  making  a  real  weakling  less  weak? 
Right  to  —  "  a  sudden  tense  halt.  "  I  beg  your 
pardon,"  swiftly.  "  I  did  n't  mean  that.  For 
get  that  I  said  it."  He  stooped  to  pick  up  his 

[  299  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

cap  and  gauntlets.  When  he  came  forward 
once  more  he  was  himself  again,  as  he  would  be 
from  that  moment  on. 

"  Don't  fancy  for  a  minute  I  mean  to  hurt 
you,  or  to  make  it  harder  for  you  now,"  he  said 
steadily;  "but  this  is  the  end,  you  realize,  the 
turning  of  the  ways  —  and  I  must  be  sure.  You 
still  can't  give  me  an  answer,  Elice? " 

The  girl  did  not  look  at  him  this  time,  did 
not  stir. 

"  No,  not  even  yet." 

A  pause,  short  this  time. 

"  And  you  won't  reconsider  about  going  to 
work  for  a  living,  won't  let  me  help,  as  a  friend, 
merely  as  a  friend?  You  know  me  too  well 
to  misunderstand  this.  It  would  mean  nothing 
absolutely  to  me  now  to  help,  and  would  not 
alter  our  friendship,  if  you  wish,  in  the  least. 
Won't  you  let  me  do  this  trifle  for  you  if  I 
ask  it?" 

Resolutely  the  girl  shook  her  head,  very 
steadily. 

"  I  understand  and  appreciate,"  she  said; 
"  but  I  can't." 

A  moment  longer  the  man  waited.  He  ex 
tended  his  hand.  '  There  's  nothing  more  to  be 
said,  then,  I  fancy,  except  good-bye." 

[  SOD  ] 


Travesty 

For  the  first  time  in  that  long,  long  fight 
the  girl  weakened.  Gropingly  she  found  the 
extended  hand;  but  even  then  the  voice  was 
steady. 

"  Good-bye,"  she  said  —  and  that  was  all. 


301  ] 


CHAPTER    VIII 

CELEBRATION 

IT  had  been  a  gay  dinner,  a  memorable  dinner. 
The  mere  ostensible  occasion  of  its  being  in 
celebration  of  the  publication  of  Steve  Arm 
strong's  first  novel,  "  The  Disillusioned,"  would 
of  itself  have  been  sufficient  reason  therefor.  In 
addition,  the  resignation,  by  a  peculiar  coinci 
dence  to  take  effect  the  same  day,  of  the  former 
manager  of  the  Traction  Company,  Darley  Rob 
erts,  with  a  recommendation  that  was  virtually 
a  command  for  the  advancement  of  his  acting 
assistant,  Harry  Randall,  to  his  place,  added 
another  reason  no  less  patent.  If  a  cloud  existed 
that  evening  to  mar  the  happiness  of  those  four 
long-time  friends  gathered  in  commemoration  of 
the  dispensation  of  Providence  jointly  enjoyed, 
it  most  emphatically  had  not  lifted  its  head 
above  the  surface.  Never  had  Margery  Randall 
bubbled  with  more  spontaneous  abandon;  or, 
even  in  the  old  university  days,  had  Elice  Glea- 
son  laughed  more  easily.  And  as  for  Steve 

[  302  ] 


Celebration 

Armstrong,  the  guest  of  honor,  the  conquering 
hero,  —  it  was  his  hour  and  in  its  intoxicating 
completeness  he  had  enjoyed  it  to  the  full;  had 
stretched  it  on  and  on  that  he  might  enjoy  it 
again.  Now,  the  last  course  served,  the  last  toast 
proposed  and  drunk  in  inadequate  chocolate,  and 
the  two  girl  friends,  after  the  habit  of  old  ac 
quaintances,  left  to  their  own  private  confab, 
Randall  and  Armstrong  drifted  instinctively 
upstairs  to  the  former's  den  for  their  after- 
dinner  smoke.  In  absolute  well-being,  too  keen 
almost  for  words,  Armstrong  dropped  into  a  big 
leather  chair,  facing  his  host. 

"  By  Jove,  Harry,"  he  commented  explo 
sively,  "  I  tell  you  this  is  something  like  living. 
I  never  enjoyed  myself  so  much  before  in  my 
life." 

Harry  Randall,  decidedly  stouter  than  the 
Randall  of  professor  days,  smiled  appreciatively 
as  he  selected  a  cigar  from  the  convenient 
humidor. 

"  Yes,  the  world  does  look  rather  bright  to  me 
to-night,  I  '11  admit,"  he  acquiesced. 

"Bright!"  Armstrong  laughed  outright  in 
pure  animal  exuberance.  "  It 's  positively  daz 
zling:  the  more  so  by  comparison."  He  looked 
at  his  companion  with  the  frank  understanding 

[  303  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

of  those  long  and  intimately  acquainted.  '  What 
a  change  a  few  short  years  can  make  sometimes, 
can't  they?  What  an  incredible  change!" 

Harry  Randall  returned  the  look,  but  gravely 
this  time. 

'  Yes,    I  Ve   been   thinking   of   that   all   the 
evening,"  he  said  simply. 

"  So  have  I."  Armstrong  laughed  shortly; 
"that  is,  when  I  have  n't  been  too  irresponsibly 
happy  to  think  at  all.  Just  to  get  my  bearings 
I  tried  to  fancy  myself  back  where  I  was  once 
when  I  came  to  tell  my  troubles  to  you;  and 
went  to  pieces  at  the  end  of  the  narrative."  He 
gestured  eloquently.  '  What  a  fool  I  was  and 
what  a  liar  to  swear  I  'd  never  do  any  more 
literary  work,  or  permit  a  book  of  mine  to  be 
published  in  any  circumstances,  ever!"  Once 
more  the  gesture,  ending  in  an  all-comprehen 
sive  shrug.  ;'Bah!  I  don't  like  to  think  of  it. 
The  whole  thing 's  a  nightmare,  neither  more 
nor  less! " 

Again  Harry  Randall  did  not  smile. 

"Yes;  the  past  was  a  little  that  way,"  he 
echoed  again. 

For  perhaps  half  a  minute  Armstrong  smoked 
in  reminiscent  gravity;  swiftly  as  the  shadow 
had  intruded  it  passed. 

[  304  ] 


Celebration 

"  Let 's  forget  it,"  he  proposed,  "  forget  it 
absolutely  and  never  speak  of  it  again.  By  the 
way,  do  you  own  this  place  now?  " 

"  No;    Roberts  still  holds  it.     I  made  him  an 

offer  before  he  went  away  last  Summer,  but  he 

would  n't  even  consider  it  then.     I  '11  try  again 

when  he  returns.    Margery  wants  it  badly." 

'  When  he  returns?    Is  he  coming  back  soon?  " 

"  I  judge  so,  although  I  Ve  had  no  word. 
There  were  a  number  of  letters  and  telegrams 
came  for  him  yesterday,  and  a  batch  of  them  to 
day.  I  suspect  that  he  intended  being  here  to 
night  and  is  delayed  for  some  reason."  Randall 
removed  his  glasses  and  polished  them  with  un 
necessary  diligence.  "I  wired  him  when  I  heard 
what  he  'd  done  for  me,  but  I  have  n't  had  any 
answer  yet.  I  'd  have  given  anything  to  have 
had  him  here  to-night.  It  was  the  one  thing 
lacking." 

For  a  moment  there  was  silence. 

"  He  has  done  a  lot  for  you,  Harry,  that 's  a 
fact,"  commented  Armstrong,  judicially.  '  Your 
new  place  at  six  thousand  dollars  a  year  is  a 
pretty  good  thing  even  for  these  days." 

"A  lot?  Everything!  He  pulled  me  out  of 
hell  and  gave  me  a  chance  when  I  'd  never  have 
made  one  myself,  I  owe  him  everything;  and 

20  [  305  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

I  've  never  been  able  to  do  him  one  blessed  ser 
vice  in  return." 

Armstrong  squirmed  uncomfortably.  The 
usually  reticent  Harry  Randall  like  this  was  a 
novelty. 

"  For  that  matter,  he  's  done  a  lot  for  both 
of  us,"  admitted  Armstrong,  perfunctorily.  "  I 
appreciate  it  too,  thoroughly." 

Randall  looked  up  swiftly;  in  remembrance 
equally  swift  he  turned  away. 

'  Yes ;  he  's  done  miracles  for  both  of  us,  more 
than  we  can  possibly  realize,"  he  said  softly. 
"More- 

"  Harry,"  interrupted  Margery  Randall's  voice 
from  the  stairway,  "  I  'm  sorry  to  hasten  you 
men,  but  Elice  thinks  she  must  go.  Her  father 
is  n't  well,  you  know,  and  is  at  home  alone." 

"  I  '11  wait,  Elice.  It 's  early  yet.  See  how 
your  father  is  and  come  down  when  you  can." 
Armstrong  looked  at  her  meaningly,  with  all 
but  an  appeal.  '  This  is  my  night,  you  know. 
You  really  can't  refuse  to  let  me  see  you 
to-night." 

The  girl  busied  herself  with  the  lights  and  the 
gas  in  the  grate. 

"  I  know,  Steve ;  but  really  I  'd  rather  not  see 
[  306  ] 


Celebration 

any  one  longer  to-night."     She  took  off  her  coat 
almost  hurriedly.     "  It 's  a  busy  time  for  me  now 
before  the  holidays ;   and  with  father  as  he  is  - 
That 's  why  I  came  away  so  early,  you  know. 
Not  to-night,  please,  Steve." 

Armstrong  silently  paced  the  length  of  the 
little  library,  pitifully  bare  in  comparison  with 
the  home  they  had  just  left.  He  halted. 

"  Do  you  realize  that  you  Ve  invariably  pre 
vented,  by  one  excuse  or  another,  my  talking  with 
you  alone  in  months  now?  "  he  asked  abruptly. 
"  Don't  you  mean  ever  to  give  me  a  chance 
again?  You  know  what  it  is  I  wish  to  speak 
about,  Elice." 

The  girl  was  standing  —  quite  still  now. 

'*  Yes,  I  know  what  it  is  you  wish,"  she 
corroborated. 

Armstrong  fingered  the  gloves  in  his  hand 
nervously.  "Aren't  you  going  to  listen  then? 
I  won't  attempt  to  make  any  apologies  for  the 
past.  I  can't.  But  I  'd  hoped  you  'd  forgotten, 
or  at  least  forgiven,  by  this  time.  I  Ve  tried  to 
make  good,  honestly,  Elice;  and  to-night  partic 
ularly  —  don't  stand  me  in  the  corner  any  longer, 
please.  I  Ve  been  punished  enough." 

"Punished!"  The  girl  wheeled.  "I 
wonder  -  She  checked  herself  suddenly. 

[  307  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

'  Very  well,"  she  digressed  swiftly,  -  "  wait. 
I  '11  be  back  soon,"  and  she  was  gone. 

Alone  Armstrong  threw  hat  and  topcoat  into 
a  chair  almost  irritably;  walking  over  to  the 
grate,  he  stood  gazing  down  into  the  blaze  ab 
sently.  For  some  reason  it  called  to  mind  an 
other  grate  and  another  occasion  when  he  had 
looked  absently  therein;  and  almost  uncon 
sciously  he  caught  himself  glancing  at  the  shelf 
above,  half  expecting  to  catch  the  play  of  light 
from  a  red  decanter  thereon.  With  the  shrug 
of  one  who  banishes  an  unpleasant  memory  he 
turned  away.  He  was  still  standing,  however, 
when  the  girl  returned. 

"  Is  there  any  way  I  can  assist,  with  your 
father?  "  he  asked  perfunctorily. 

"  No,  thank  you.  He  's  asleep.  It 's  mental, 
the  trouble  with  him,  more  than  anything  else." 
She  sat  down  and  indicated  a  place  opposite. 
"  I  'm  so  glad  Harry  Randall  escaped  in  time." 

"And  I  as  well?  " 

'  Yes,  and  you,  assuredly." 

Armstrong  waited;  but  she  said  no  more,  and 
with  an  odd  diffidence  he  cleared  his  throat 
unnecessarily. 

:'  It 's  sacrilege,  though,  for  us  to  talk  common 
places  to-night,"  he  anticipated  hastily.  "  There 's 

f  308  ] 


Celebration 

too  much  else  to  discuss,  and  to-day  has  meant 
too  much.  Do  you  realize  what  this  day  really 
means  for  both  of  us,  Elice?" 

The  long  fingers  lay  in  the  girl's  lap,  quite 
stiU. 

"  Perhaps.    But  tell  me  if  you  wish." 

Again  the  fantastic  diffidence  held  Armstrong 
in  its  grip;  and  again  he  freed  himself  with  an 
effort. 

"  It  means,  first  of  all,  that  at  last  I  'm  on  my 
feet,  where  I  've  always  wished  to  be.  It  means 
that  I  'm  to  have  my  chance  —  and  that  again 
means  independence."  He  overlooked  abso 
lutely  the  egotism  of  the  statement,  was  uncon 
scious  of  it.  Success  loomed  too  big  and  incon- 
testible;  possible  future  failure  lay  too  remote 
to  merit  consideration.  "It  means  all  of  this; 
but  beyond  that  it  means  that  I  have  the  right 
to  tell  you  again  that  I  love  you.  You  know  I 
love  you,  as  always,  Elice." 

"As  always?" 

"  Forget,  please.  This  is  to-day ;  my  day, 
our  day.  You  don't  doubt  I  love  you? " 

"No;    I  don't  doubt  it." 

Armstrong  breathed  deep.  An  instinct  all 
but  overwhelming  impelled  him  to  rise,  to  —  he 
substituted  with  his  eyes. 

[  309  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

'  You  realize  all  that  I  wish  to  say,"  he  said 
swiftly,  "so  why  make  a  farce  of  it  by  words? 
We  Ve  drifted  apart  for  a  long  time,  a  hide 
ously  long  time,  and  it 's  been  my  fault  through 
out  ;  but  now  that  it 's  over  won't  you  come  back 
to  the  beginning,  Elice,  to  the  place  where  we 
separated?"  He  halted  for  breath,  for  words 
where  none  were  adequate.  "  I  want  you,  Elice, 
want  you  —  now  and  always.  Tell  me,  please, 
that  you  Ve  forgiven  me,  that  you  '11  come 
back." 

In  the  girl's  lap  the  hands  crossed  steadily; 
again  that  was  the  only  move  she  made. 

"So  far  as  I  am  concerned  there  's  nothing 
to  forgive,  nor  has  there  ever  been,"  she  said 
gently.  "As  for  going  back,  though,  I  can't; 
because  I  can't.  It 's  useless  to  lie,  for  you  'd 
find  me  out.  I've  simply  awakened." 

'  You  mean  you  —  don't  care  for  me  any 
more? " 

"  No;  I  care  for  you  very  much;  but  not  in 
that  way.  It  was  so  before  the  end  came.  I 
awoke  before  that." 

"  And  still  you  would  have  married  me  then." 

"Yes,"  simply. 

"And  now?" 

The  girl  did  not  answer,  did  not  even  look  up. 
[  310  ] 


Celebration 

"  And  now,"  he  repeated  insistently,  "  tell  me; 
and  now? " 

This  time  the  brown  eyes  lifted,  met  his 
steadily. 

"  Unless  something  happens  I  can't  marry 
you  now,"  she  said. 

Armstrong  looked  at  her;  at  first  dazedly, 
then  with  a  trace  of  color  gathering  under  his 
fair  skin. 

"Unless  something  happens?"  he  repeated. 
"  Pardon  me,  but  what  do  you  mean  by 
that?" 

"  Nothing,"  swiftly.  "  I  was  thinking  of 
something  else.  I  hate  to  hurt  you;  but  as  I 
said  before,  it 's  useless  to  temporize.  I  can't 
marry  you  now,  Steve." 

In  his  place  Armstrong  settled  back  dumbly. 
Unconsciously  he  passed  his  handkerchief  over 
his  mouth.  The  hand  that  carried  it  trembled 
a  bit. 

'  You  really  mean  that,  do  you? "  he  groped, 
half  to  himself,  "  mean  the  break  to  be  really 
final  this  time?  "  He  shut  his  eyes,  like  a  child 
suddenly  awakened  in  the  dark  and  afraid. 
"  Somehow  I  had  n't  expected  that  at  all,  had  n't 
planned  on  it.  I  suppose  it  was  childish  of  me; 
but  I  Ve  been  taking  things  for  granted,  on  the 

[311] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

strength  of  the  past,  and — and—  Of  a  sudden 
the  rambling  tongue  halted.  The  eyes  opened 
wide,  unnaturally  wide;  and  in  their  depths  was 
again  that  new  look  of  terror,  but  now  mag 
nified.  '  Tell  me  that  you  don't  mean  it, 
Elice,  really,"  he  pleaded.  "  I  was  just  begin 
ning  to  live  and  hope  again;  and  now  —  tell 
me!" 

Long  before  this  the  girl  had  ceased  looking 
at  him.  Instead,  with  the  instinctive  fascina 
tion  an  open  fire  exerts  over  all  human  beings, 
she  had  turned  toward  the  tiny  jets  of  gas  in 
the  grate;  her  face  propped  in  her  hands  she 
sat  staring  into  the  depths  of  the  flame.  She 
scarcely  seemed  to  breathe,  even  when  she 
spoke. 

'  Yes,  I  meant  it,"  she  repeated  patiently. 

For  a  long  time  there  was  silence,  —  long 
enough  with  the  man  for  the  mood  to  pass,  the 
mood  of  terror,  and  in  reaction  its  antithesis, 
reckless  abandon,  to  come  in  its  stead.  For  come 
it  did,  as  was  inevitable;  and  heralding  its  ap 
proach  sounded  a  laugh,  —  a  sudden  mirthless, 
sarcastic  laugh. 

"  So  this  is  the  end  of  my  day,"  he  said.  He 
laughed  again.  '''  I  might  have  known  it  was 
too  good  to  last.  What  a  fool  I  was  to  imag- 

[  312  ] 


Celebration 

ine  that  just  because  one  thing  had  come  my 
way  everything  else  was  going  to  follow  suit. 
What  a  poor,  blithering  fool!" 

"  Steve!  "  No  lethargy  in  the  girl's  figure 
now,  in  the  face  of  a  sudden  turned  toward  him 
appealingly.  "  Don't  take  it  that  way  or  say 
such  things.  Nothing  has  changed  in  the  least. 
I  'm  still  your  friend,  as  I  Ve  always  been;  so 
is  Harry  Randall  —  and  the  rest.  You  're  still 
a  successful  writer;  you've  proved  it  to-day,  and 
you  '11  prove  it  further  with  the  new  book  you  're 
working  on  now.  I  repeat,  nothing  has  altered 
in  tHe  least.  Don't  talk  that  way.  It  hurts 
me." 

In  his  chair,  erect  now,  Armstrong  merely 
smiled.  But  his  color  was  higher  than  normal 
and  the  blue  eyes  were  unnaturally  bright. 

"  No,  nothing  has  changed,  I  suppose,"  he 
said  evenly.  '  You  're  right  there.  I  Ve  simply 
been  in  a  trance  —  that 's  all  —  and  I  Ve  inad 
vertently  come  to.  I  seem  to  have  the  habit  of 
doing  that."  He  smiled  again,  hopelessly  cruel 
in  his  egotism.  "  Of  course  I  have  friendship, 
oceans  of  it,  yours  particularly,  as  I  Ve  had  all 
the  time.  And  success;  it  monopolizes  the  sky, 
fairly  blots  out  the  stars,  and  obscures  the  sun 
like  an  eclipse.  There  's  no  end  to  the  success 

[  313] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

I  have.  It 's  infinite.  And  still  further,  incen 
tive:  to  be  and  to  do  and  to  fight."  The  smile 
vanished.  He  could  not  mock  in  the  face  of 
that  thought  even  yet.  ''Incentive!  What  a 
travesty.  Elice,  you  Ve  killed  the  last  trace  of 
incentive  I  had  just  now." 

"Steve!"  The  girl's  hands  lifted  imperi 
ously.  "  Stop.  Have  you  no  pity? "  She 
shook  the  swift-gathering  flood  from  her  eyes 
rebelliously  and  faced  him  fair.  '  You  '11  be 
very  sorry  you  said  such  things  after  you  Ve 
had  time  to  think,"  she  went  on.  "  Don't  add 
regret  to  the  rest  to-night.  Please  don't." 

"  Sorry,  perhaps,"  echoed  the  man,  "  and  re 
gret —  possibly.  Anyway,  what  does  it  matter? 
It 's  true." 

"  True  —  no,"  swiftly.  "  I  can't  believe  it.  I 
won't.  Don't  say  that.  In  pity,  don't." 

"  But,  I  repeat,  it  is  true,"  doggedly.  "  I 
at  least  can't  help  that.  Elice,  don't  cry  so!" 
Of  a  sudden  he  was  on  his  feet  bending  over 
her.  "Please  don't.  I  love  you!" 

"Don't  touch  me!  I  can't  stand  it!"  The 
girl  had  drawn  away  swiftly,  the  repression  of 
years  for  an  instant  broken.  '  You  dare  to  tell 
me  that  —  now !  Love  -  She  cut  herself 

short  with  an  effort  of  will  and,  rising  hurriedly, 

[  314] 


Celebration 

walked  the  length  of  the  room  to  the  window. 
For  more  than  a  minute,  while  Armstrong  stood 
staring  after  her  dumbly,  she  remained  so;  her 
face  pressed  against  the  cold  pane,  looking  out 
upon  the  white  earth.  Deliberately,  normally, 
she  turned.  Seemingly  without  an  effort,  so 
naturally  that  even  Armstrong  was  deceived, 
she  smiled. 

"  Pardon  me,"  she  said  evenly.  "  I  'm  not 
often  hysterical."  She  was  returning  slowly. 
"I  '11  be  glad  when  vacation  comes.  I  think 
I  'm  —  tired."  She  seated  herself  and  motioned 
the  other  back  into  his  place,  —  a  motion  that 
was  a  command.  "  Now,  tell  me,  please,  that 
you  didn't  mean  what  you  said  a  moment  ago 
when  we  were  both  irresponsible.  It  will  make 
us  both  sleep  better." 

The  smile  had  left  Armstrong's  face  now,  and 
in  its  place  was  the  pallor  of  reaction.  But  he 
was  quiet  also. 

"  I  wish  I  could,"  he  said  steadily,  "  but  I 
can't.  It  '11  be  exactly  as  it  was  before." 

The  girl  was  still  smiling,  —  that  same  nor 
mal,  apparently  effortless,  smile. 

"Nonsense!"  she  refuted,  in  tones  delib 
erately  matter-of-fact.  '  There  's  all  the  dif 
ference  in  the  world.  Before  you  had  no 

[315  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

audience.  And  now  —  the  entire  country  will 
listen  now." 

"  It  does  n't  matter,"  dully.  "  It 's  always 
been  you  that  counted  really.  Success  was  an 
incident,  but  you  were  the  real  incentive." 

"I?"  She  laughed  gently.  "On  the  con 
trary  it  was  I  who  tried  to  lead  you  away  from 
your  work,  to  make  you  practical.  Don't  you 
remember  the  Graham  offer?  " 

"  Yes,"  hurriedly.  "  I  Ve  thought  of  it  a 
thousand  times.  It  was  the  big  mistake  of  my 
life  when  I  refused  his  proposal.  If  I  'd  ac 
cepted  then  - 

'  You  'd  not  have  been  a  successful  writer 
whose  work  goes  on  sale  to-day  in  every  city 
in  the  United  States." 

"  Perhaps.  But  I  would  have  had  you.  What 
do  I  care  for  success  in  comparison  to  you!" 

Listening,  just  for  an  instant  the  girl's  nos 
trils  tightened;  again  she  laughed. 

'  We  seem  to  be  travelling  in  a  circle,"  she 
bantered,  "  and  keep  returning  to  the  starting- 
point.  It 's  discouraging." 

"  It 's  written,"  said  Armstrong,  simply.  "We 
can't  avoid  it.  With  me  you  're  the  starting- 
point  as  you  're  the  end,  always.  Did  n't  you 
recognize  yourself  so  in  the  last  novel?" 

[316] 


Celebration 

The  girl  settled  back  in  her  seat  wearily. 

'  You  told  me,  I  recall,"  she  said. 

"And  in  the  one  before?" 

"  You  told  me  that  also." 

Armstrong  was  observing  her  steadily. 

"  You  are  in  the  new  one  too,"  he  said;  "the 
one  I  Ve  been  working  on  —  but  which  will  never 
be  completed  now.  You  Ve  killed  the  girl  there 
too,  Elice." 

"Steve!"  The  hands  had  gone  swiftly  to 
the  girl's  ears,  covered  them  completely.  "  I 
shan't  listen.  This  is  worse  than  folly.  It 's 
madness." 

"  I  can't  help  it,"  monotonously.  "  It 's  my 
self.  I  can't  avoid  being  myself." 

"  Nor  I  myself,  Steve,"  very  gently.  "  Can't 
you  realize  that?  " 

The  man  passed  his  hand  across  his  eyes  as 
though  brushing  away  something  tangible. 

"  No,  I  can't  realize  anything,"  he  said  dully, 
"  except  that  I  love  you  —  and  have  lost.  This 
and  that  the  world  is  dead  —  and  I  am  alone 
in  it." 

For  the  second  time  the  girl  arose,  and  even 
yet  quite  steadily.  But  at  last  her  lips  were 
trembling. 

"  I   think  you  had  better   go   now,"   she  re- 

[  317  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

quested.  :<  I  can't  stand  this  much  longer;  and 
besides,  to  keep  it  up  would  do  no  good  that 
I  can  see.  To-morrow  is  Saturday,  and  if  you 
still  feel  there  is  anything  you  must  say  to  me 
I  shall  be  at  home  all  day.  But  to-night  — 
please  go  now." 

As  in  a  dream,  Armstrong  arose,  obeying  her 
command  —  as  he  always  obeyed  in  small  things. 

'  Yes,  I  suppose  you  're  right,"  he  echoed 
dully.  ;'  I  realize  I  'm  only  making  matters 
worse  by  staying,  only  getting  us  farther  apart." 
He  buttoned  his  coat  to  the  chin  and  drew  on 
his  gloves  linger ingly.  '  If  I  were  to  call 
to-morrow,  though,  is  n't  there  a  chance  that 
you  would  be  different?  Can't  I  have  even  — 
hope?" 

The  girl  said  nothing,  did  not  appear  to  hear. 
Subconsciously  she  was  counting  the  seconds, 
almost  with  prayer;  counting  until  she  should 
be  alone. 

But  still  Armstrong  dallied,  killing  those  same 
seconds  wilfully. 

"  Are  n't  you  going  to  offer  me  even  hope, 
Elice?"  he  repeated.  "I'll  be  in  — hell  when 
I  go,  without  even  hope." 

It  was  the  final  straw,  that  prophetic  sug 
gestion,  the  snapping  straw.  With  one  gesture 

[318] 


Celebration 

of  hopeless,  impotent  misery,  of  infinite  appeal 
as  well,  the  girl  threw  out  her  hand. 

"  Go,"  she  pleaded  brokenly,  "  go  quickly. 
There  's  a  limit  to  everything  and  with  me  that 
limit  is  reached."  She  motioned  again,  and 
Steve  went  out  into  the  night. 


[  319] 


CHAPTER    IX 

ADMONITION 

THERE  was  a  light  in  the  den  as  Darley 
Roberts,  having  let  himself  in  with  his 
latch-key,  started  up  the  stairs  toward  his  own 
rooms,  and,  although  he  moved  softly,  Harry 
Randall  himself  faced  the  newcomer  on  the 
landing,  his  hand  extended. 

"  I  was  waiting  for  you,"  he  announced  with 
out  preface.     "  I  felt  sure  you  'd  be  in  to-night 
sometime."     He   was   smiling  a  welcome,   one 
unmistakably  genuine.     "Delayed,  were  you?" 
'  Yes.     A  wreck  out  about  seventy  miles.     I 
just  got  in  on  the  relief,"  laconically.     The  ac 
companying     grip,     however,     was     not     curt. 
'  You  '11  read  about  it  in  the  morning.     Looks 
comfortable  in  there,"  with  a  nod  toward  the  in 
viting  den.    "  Early  enough  yet  for  a  chat,  is  it?  " 
:'  I  was  hoping  so.     That 's  why  I  sat  up." 
'  Thanks.     I  '11  be  with  you  in  a  minute." 
Shortly,    in   lounging-robe   and   slippers    this 
time,  he  came  tiptoeing  down  the  hall  past  the 

[  320  ] 


Admonition 

other  sleeping-rooms;  a  big  alert  shape  that 
seemed  mountainous  beside  the  lesser  Randall 
idly  awaiting  his  return. 

'  Very  well,"  he  introduced  characteristically 
as  he  dropped  into  a  convenient  seat,  "  let 's  hear 
all  about  it  —  everything.  I  'm  listening." 

Randall  caught  the  contagion  of  brevity,  as 
he  always  did  when  in  the  other's  presence. 
:'  What  would  you  like  to  hear  about  first,"  he 
returned  smilingly.  "Have  you  any  choice?" 

"  Yourself,"  with  a  steady  look.  "  Every 
thing  's  right,  I  see." 

"  Yes,  everything 's  right,"  echoed  Randall, 
"  so  much  so  that  I  'm  simply  foolishly  happy." 
He  paused  meaningly.  "  And  now,  since  - 

Roberts  gestured  —  merely  gestured. 

"  Are  n't  you  going  to  permit  me  even  to 
thank  you?"  countered  Randall. 

"  I  came  to  hear  the  news,"  evenly.  Roberts 
smiled  suddenly  at  the  look  on  his  companion's 
face.  "  I  understand  about  that  other  matter," 
he  digressed,  ambiguously  but  nevertheless  ade 
quately;  "let  it  go  at  that.  Mrs.  Randall,  I 
presume  - 

"  She  hung  your  portrait,  life  size,  in  the 
parlor  downstairs  a  few  days  ago,"  with  direct 
malice. 

21  [  321  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Again  Roberts  gestured;  then  he  looked  up. 
They  laughed  together  and  the  tabooed  subject 
by  mutual  consent  passed  into  oblivion. 

"  Miss  Gleason  —  Elice  —  "  suggested  Roberts. 

"  Still  at  her  place  in  the  university."  Ran 
dall  busied  himself  with  a  strand  of  lint  on  the 
collar  of  his  smoking- jacket.  "Her  father 's  gone 
all  to  pieces,  you  know,  and  she  seems  a  bit  — 
tired.  Otherwise  she's  herself  —  as  always." 

"  No,  I  did  n't  know,"  said  Roberts.  "  And 
Armstrong?  " 

:<  He  's  been  working  steadily  for  months,  and 
been  straight  absolutely."  Randall  ventured  a 
glance  at  last.  '  To-day  was  his  big  day;  you 
do  know  that.  He  was  in  the  clouds  this 
evening." 

"  I  should  like  to  have  been  with  you."  The 
tone  was  non-committal.  "  Strange  to  say  I  like 
to  see  people  in  that  frame  of  mind.  It  makes 
for  optimism.  Will  his  new  effort,  you  think, 
stand  on  its  own  legs?" 

'  Yes ;  always  providing  nothing  interferes. 
I  've  seen  the  first  half.  It 's  more  than  good. 
It 's  excellent.  You  're  in  it,  distinct  as  life,  by 
the  way." 

Roberts  lit  a  cigar  and  smoked  for  a  minute 
in  silence. 

[  322  1 


Admonition 

"  I  'm  sorry,  sincerely,  that  I  'm  there,"  he 
said  then.  He  gazed  at  his  companion  steadily, 
and  with  a  significance  Randall  never  forgot. 
"  I  used  to  fancy  I  was  n't  afraid  of  anything. 
I  'm  not  afraid  of  most  things,  —  dynamite  or 
nitro-glycerine  or  murderous  fanatics  or  physical 
pain ;  but  in  the  last  year  I  Ve  learned  there  's 
one  thing  on  earth,  one  person,  I  'm  afraid  of 
—  deathly  afraid.  You  know  who?" 

"  Yes." 

"  I  predicted  once  he  would  make  good.  I 
believed  it  then.  Since  I  Ve  been  alone  a  good 
deaj  and  had  much  time  to  think,  and  ques 
tion.  That 's  why  I  am  afraid."  Roberts 
paused  to  smoke,  seemingly  impassive.  ;'  I  'd 
give  every  cent  I  have  in  the  world  and  start 
anew  to-morrow  without  breakfast  if  I  could 
only  know,  only  know  to  a  certainty  that  he 
would  keep  his  grip.  But  will  he?  .  .  .  I  'm 
afraid!" 

Scarcely  knowing  what  he  did,  Randall  lit  a 
cigar  in  turn  and  smoked  like  a  furnace.  His 
tongue  attempted  to  form  an  assurance,  but  try 
as  he  might  he  could  not  give  it  voice.  Once 
he  had  promised  not  to  lie  to  that  man  op 
posite,  ever;  and  in  the  depths  of  his  own 
soul  he  knew  that  he,  too,  was  afraid.  At  last, 

[  323  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

in  self-confessed  rout,  he  voiced  the  common 
place. 

'  It 's  my  turn  to  ask  questions  now,  I  think," 
he  said.     "Are  you  back  to  stay?" 

Roberts  looked  up,  only  half  comprehending; 
he  roused  himself. 

"  No.  I  intend  to  close  out  everything.  I 
doubt  if  I  ever  stay  anywhere  permanently 
again.  I  '11  keep  the  house  here,  though." 

'  You  've  decided  not  to  sell  it  —  even  to 
me?" 

Roberts  paused. 

'Yes,"  he  said  at  last;  but  he  offered  no 
explanation. 

Randall  waited,  hoping  for  a  lead  whereby 
light  might  come.  But  none  opened,  and  the 
subject  dropped. 

"  I  judge  the  mine  's  making  good,"  he  com 
mented,  with  the  trace  of  awkwardness  he  al 
ways  felt  when  approaching  the  other's  personal 
affairs.  ;<  Will  you  return  soon?" 

"  Probably  not  soon."  The  voice  was  almost 
listless.  "  I  put  everything  in  shape  for  an 
indefinite  absence  before  I  came  away.  To 
answer  your  question :  It 's  a  wonder,  bigger 
than  I  ever  hoped.  It  '11  still  be  a  great  mine 
a  generation  from  now." 

[  324  ] 


Admonition 

Randall  caught  his  breath.  The  big  game 
was  yet  new  to  him,  and  the  volume  of  wealth 
suggested  was  cumulatively  overpowering. 

"Bigger  than  you  expected!"  he  echoed. 
;'  Then  that  means  —  millions !  " 

Roberts  glanced  at  his  companion  curiously. 
Slowly  he  smiled. 

'  Yes,"  he  said,  "  it  means  millions.  I  have  n't 
even  an  idea  how  many  eventually."  The  smile 
left  his  face,  every  trace  of  expression  as  well. 
"  I  could  sell  for  ten  to-day  if  I  wished;  but 
I  have  no  intention  of  selling." 

Randall  sat  looking  at  the  other  as  if  hypno 
tized.  He  forgot  to  ask  questions,  forgot  almost 
to  breathe.  To  read  of  gigantic  fortunes,  the 
property  of  absolute  strangers  living  a  thousand 
or  thousands  of  miles  away,  is  one  thing :  to  have 
one  personally  known,  an  actual  acquaintance 
in  possession  —  it  held  him  speechless,  staring. 
The  other's  familiar,  tolerant  laugh  aroused  him. 

"Don't,  please,"  said  Roberts.  "They've 
been  doing  that  to  me  wherever  I  show  myself 
and  write  my  name ;  that  is,  when  they  have  n't 
been  proving  relationship."  He  laughed  again 
shortly.  "  It 's  wonderful  how  many  relatives 
I  Ve  discovered  of  late  and  friends  I've  made. 
Don't  do  it,  please." 

[  325  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Randall  could  still  color  and  his  face  went  red. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  he  apologized,  "I  —  " 

"  Nor  that  either,"  swiftly,  almost  curtly. 
"  Just  be  yourself,  natural.  I  like  you  that 
way."  He  looked  at  the  other  openly,  with 
frank  intentness  that  heralded  the  unexpected. 

"  It 's  possible,"  he  digressed  evenly,  "  that 
I  '11  be  here  some  time,  but  the  chances  are  I  '11 
only  stay  a  day  or  so.  After  to-night  we  '11 
probably  not  see  much  of  each  other,  maybe 
nothing  at  all,  ever.  We  're  rather  different 
types  and  our  roads  lead  differently."  He  smiled 
to  dissipate  the  mystification  he  saw  gathering 
on  the  other's  face.  '  This  is  a  preface.  What 
I  'm  aiming  at  directly  is  to  say  a  thing  or  two 
that  have  been  on  my  mind  for  some  time  — 
in  case  I  don't  have  the  opportunity  again." 
Once  more  the  smile, —  the  same  smile  that  had 
won  the  confidence  of  the  other  against  heavy 
odds  in  the  beginning  of  their  acquaintance. 
"  Do  you  mind  if  I  'm  a  bit  —  fatherly  to  you?  " 

"  No."  Swift  as  thought,  as  panoramic  mem 
ory,  Harry  Randall  had  remembered  everything ; 
and,  without  shame,  his  eyes  were  moist.  "  I  'd 
like  you  to  be  so.  I  understand." 

Roberts  looked  away  at  the  red  and  green 
wall  opposite. 

[  326  ] 


Admonition 

"  It 's  just  this,  then;  and  if  you  wish  me  to 
stop  say  the  word;  I  get  reports  of  various 
things  in  various  ways.  It 's  part  of  my  philos 
ophy  to  know  of  events  in  advance  if  I  can. 
I  've  heard  that  you  are  speculating  a  bit.  Is 
it  true?" 

Randall  started  involuntarily;  but  the  other 
was  not  looking. 

"  How  in  the  world  did  you  know? "  he 
questioned. 

"  Never  mind  how  I  know.  I  'd  tell  you  if 
it  would  do  any  good ;  but  it  would  n't.  It 's 
true,-  is  n't  it?  " 

'  Yes,"  Randall  moistened  his  lips;  "  a  little." 

"  Things  coming  a  trifle  slow  for  you,  are 
they?  Hard  to  meet  expenses  — ': 

"No;   it's  not  that;   but- 

"  I  understand  perfectly."  Roberts  was  still 
inspecting  the  pattern  of  the  paper  with  minute 
attention.  "  As  perhaps  your  best  friend,  though, 
don't  do  it.  If  at  any  time  you  need  money, 
really  need  it,  remember  I  am  your  friend,  and 
don't  hesitate  to  tell  me.  But  outside  of  that  —  " 
He  halted  significantly,  waiting;  then,  sufficient 
time  having  elapsed,  he  looked  at  the  other  again 
directly. 

"  Now  for  the  fatherly  admonition,"  he  di- 

[  327  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

gressed  evenly,  "  or  whatever  you  please  to  call 
it.  You  're  doing  well  here,  and  will  do  better 
as  time  goes  by.  You  're  on  your  own  feet,  solid. 
Don't  gamble  with  things  as  they  are,  ever.  It 's 
contagious,  I  know,  when  a  man  gets  a  little 
surplus,  and  looking  over  the  rise  of  the  horizon 
sees  such  an  infinite  field  beyond;  but  steer  clear. 
Some  men  can  gamble  and  lose,  and  forget  it 
and  come  up  smiling  again.  Others  are  fash 
ioned  by  nature  differently.  Once  down  they 
stay  down;  and  regret  as  long  as  they  live. 
It 's  a  fundamental  difference  no  power  can 
change.  I  hope  I  have  n't  hurt  you  unforgiv 
ably,  Randall?" 

Harry  Randall  glanced  up,  and  his  eyes  held 
steady. 

"No;  and  I'll  not  forget.  I  promise  you 
that."  Involuntarily  he  started  to  rise,  his  hand 
half  extended,  his  eyes  bright;  but  he  sat  down 
again.  "If  I  could  only  thank  you  right, 
Roberts,"  he  voiced  tensely,  "  could  only  show 
you  in  some  way  that  I  appreciate-  He 
halted,  the  sentence  so  consciously  inadequate, 
incomplete,  -  "If  I  only  could,"  he  repeated 
helplessly. 

A  moment  they  sat  there  so,  looking  at  each 
other,  merely  looking.  Then  at  last,  with  an 

[328  ] 


Admonition 

obvious  weariness  Randall  had  never  seen  him 
exhibit  before,  Roberts  slowly  arose.  Still  an 
other  moment  he  stood  there,  looking  down. 

"  '  Roberts,'  "  he  echoed  in  a  low  tone,  "  '  Rob 
erts,'  always  '  Roberts  ' !  Not  '  Darley,'  even 
then."  He  turned  abruptly  toward  his  own 
rooms,  his  great  shoulders  all  but  blocking  the 
doorway  as  he  passed  out.  "  Good-night,"  he 
said. 


[  329] 


CHAPTER    X 

DECISION 

THE  light  on  the  porch  was  dim,  and  as  Elice 
Gleason,  answering  the  ring,  opened  the 
outer  door  she  stared  as  one  who  sees  unbeliev 
able  things.  For  a  moment  she  did  not  utter  a 
sound,  merely  stood  there  gazing  at  the  visitor 
with  a  look  that  was  only  partially  credulous; 
in  sudden  weakness,  oddly  unlike  her  normal 
composure,  she  covered  her  face  with  her  hands. 

"Elice!"  Unbidden,  the  man  came  wholly 
within.  "  A  thousand  pardons  for  startling  you. 
I  should  have  let  you  know  -  -  'phoned  at  least. 
I  —  pardon  me,  please." 

With  an  effort  the  girl  removed  her  hands,  but 
Darley  Roberts  saw  she  was  still  trembling. 

"  No  need  to  apologize."  She  closed  the  door 
mechanically.  '  You  did  surprise  me,  it 's  true ; 
but  that  was  n't  the  trouble  really.  I  've  been 
expecting  something  to  happen  all  day,  some 
thing  that  has  n't  happened  yet,  and  when  you 
rang  I  fancied-  She  laughed,  as  though 

[  330  ] 


Decision 

the  inadequate  explanation  were  complete  and 
withal  a  thing  of  trivial  moment.  '  You  remem 
ber  once  I  told  you  I  believed,  after  all,  you  had 
nerves.  I  'm  making  the  tardy  discovery  that 
I  Ve  got  them  myself." 

In  his  turn  Roberts  smiled  and  ignored  the 
obvious.  He  seldom  anticipated,  this  man. 

'  Yes,  we  all  have  them,  I  guess,"  he  dis 
missed,  "  along  with  an  appendix  and  a  few  other 
superfluous  items."  He  was  still  standing  just 
within  the  doorway.  "  First  of  all,  though,  I 
don't  intrude?  Harry  Randall  told  me  about 
your 'father." 

"  He 's  been  much  better  to-day,  and  he 's 
asleep  this  evening  already."  In  swift  reaction 
the  girl  was  herself  again,  more  than  her  recent 
self,  positively  gay.  "Intrude!"  she  laughed 
softly.  'You're  actually  becoming  humorous; 
and  as  you  would  say,  your  dearest  enemies  have 
never  accused  you  of  that  before.  Come." 

Between  genteel  poverty  and  absolute  poverty 
there  are  distinguishing  signs  and  Darley  Roberts 
observed  all  things;  but  not  once  from  his  point 
of  vantage  in  the  den  he  recalled  so  well  did  he 
seem  to  take  observations  —  any  more  than  he 
seemed  to  see  the  alteration,  likewise  unmistak 
able,  in  the  girl  herself. 

[331  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  It  seems  as  though  it  were  only  yesterday  in 
stead  of  -  I  don't  like  to  think  how  many  ages 
ago,  I  was  here  last,"  he  commented  as  he  relaxed 
in  familiar  comfort.  "  If  you  just  had  one  of 
those  linen  things  you  used  to  work  on,  and  —  " 

The  ball  of  white,  like  a  crumpled  handker 
chief,  which  had  been  lying  idle  in  the  girl's  lap 
was  unrolled  and,  before  the  speaker's  eyes,  there 
appeared  against  the  colorless  background  a 
clover  with  four  leaves. 

"  Elice!  "  It  was  unfeigned  surprise.  "  Is  this 
another  regiment  or  are  you  still  working  on  that 
last  one  yet?  " 

The  girl  sorted  her  silks  in  demure  impassivity. 

"  Another  regiment  entirely  —  or  is  it  an  army? 
I  've  forgotten  how  many  comprise  a  regiment." 
She  went  to  work  with  steady  fingers.  "  These 
lunch  cloths  of  mine  are  becoming  as  staple  as 
soap  or  quinine." 

Roberts  watched  as  the  needle  went  through 
and  through,  but  he  did  not  smile.  He  could 
not. 

"  Another  regiment !  Then  I  have  n't  really 
been  sleeping,"  he  said.  "  For  a  moment  when 
that  four-leafed  clover  showed  -  By  the  way, 
do  you  happen  to  recall  what  day  of  the  month 
this*  is?" 

[  332  ] 


Decision 

"  Yes."  The  girl's  eyes  did  not  leave  her 
work.  "  I  remembered  it  the  first  thing  when 
I  got  up  this  morning." 

"  You  remembered?  And  still  you  were  sur 
prised  when  I  came.  Did  n't  you  think  I  'd  re 
member  too? " 

"  I  did  n't  doubt  it." 

"  And  come  to  commemorate  the  date,  De 
cember  the  sixth?  " 

"  Commemorate,  yes.  Come?  I  did  n't  know. 
I  hoped  —  until  it  grew  dark ;  then  —  one  loses 
certainty  alone  after  dark." 

"  It  was  n't  that  which  you  had  expected  all 
day  to  happen,  though,"  said  Roberts,  evenly. 

The  girl  did  not  dissimulate. 

"  No,"  she  said  simply. 

One  step  nearer  had  they  approached  the  mys 
tery,  one  step  only,  but  the  man  came  no  further 
—  then. 

"  And  were  n't  you  going  to  commemorate  it 
yourself,  since  you  remembered? "  he  digressed. 

'  Yes,  I  have  done  so.  I  Ve  been  celebrating 
all  day.  I  have  n't  washed  a  dish ;  they  're  all 
stacked  out  in  the  kitchen.  And  this-  '  she 
stood  up  deliberately  and  turned  about  that  the 
other  might  see  -  "  is  my  party  gown,  worn  in 
honor  of  the  occasion."  She  returned  to  her 

[  333  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

place  and  again  the  needle  passed  methodically 
in  and  out  of  the  linen.  "  Are  you  satisfied?  " 

"Satisfied!"  It  was  the  rebellious  cry  of  a 
dominant  thing  trapped  and  suffering.  "  Satis 
fied!  "  By  pure  force  of  will  he  held  back  the 
flood.  "  Elice,  won't  you  please  put  up  that 
work  —  for  to-night?  It 's  —  ghastly." 

As  though  paralyzed,  the  white  hands  paused, 
for  half  a  minute  lay  idle.  Without  comment  she 
obeyed. 

'  You  know  what  I  mean,"  said  the  man.  "  It 
makes  me  irresponsible.  I  want  to  throttle  the 
something  somewhere  to  blame." 

;'  I  'm  sorry.  I  did  n't  mean  to  hurt  you.  If 
I  had  expected  for  an  instant  - 

"Don't,  please!"  It  was  supplication  from 
one  accustomed  to  command.  '  Talk  about  hu 
man  beings  being  pawns  in  the  game  or  straws 
before  the  whirlwind!"  Again  the  curt  repres 
sion  by  pure  force  of  will,  and  the  inevitable 
pause  with  the  digression  complete  following. 
"  I  have  n't  heard  your  report  of  yourself  yet, 
Elice.  It 's  due  me,  overdue.  I  promised  you 
not  to  write,  and  kept  my  word,  you  know." 

The  girl  looked  at  him  with  eyes  that  tried  to 
smile. 

"  Ask  me  anything  else  and  I  '11  answer,"  she 

[  334  ] 


Decision 

said.  '  This  I  can't  answer,  because  there 's 
nothing  to  be  said.  I  've  merely  been  waiting." 

"  As  you  were  to-night,  when  I  startled  you?  " 

The  girl's  lips  tightened,  but  they  relaxed. 
She  was  in  command  now. 

"  Yes,"  she  said. 

It  was  the  second  step;  and  for  the  second 
time  the  man  approached  no  nearer  —  then. 

"  Won't  you  let  me  ask  you  questions  instead," 
countered  the  girl,  "  as  a  favor? " 

"  Certainly,  if  you  prefer." 

"  '  If  I  prefer.'  "  She  mouthed  the  words  de 
liberately.  '  Very  well,  then.  What  have  you 
been  doing  since  I  saw  you  last? " 

Roberts  gave  her  an  odd  look. 

"  Getting  older  mostly,"  he  said. 

"  I  might  have  chronicled  that  fact  myself," 
echoed  the  girl. 

'  Very  fast,"  added  the  man,  evenly.  "  Did 
you  notice  my  hair?  " 

"It  is  grayer  —  a  bit,"  reluctantly. 

"  Grayer!  "  Roberts  laughed.  "  I  made  a 
microscopical  examination  recently  for  one  hair 
of  the  original  color  to  preserve  as  a  relic.  It  was 
too  late.  Do  you  care  to  volunteer  in  the 
search? " 

The  girl  ignored  the  invitation. 

[  335  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

'''  What  else  did  you  do? "  she  asked. 

'  Worked  some."  Roberts  held  up  his  great 
hands,  calloused  heavily  over  the  palms.  "  I  Ve 
learned  several  things  by  actual  experience :  drill 
ing,  dynamiting,  sharpening  steel,  mucking  ore, 
assaying  —  everything." 

"  And  what  else?  "  relentlessly. 

"  Prospected  a  little.  Ran  out  of  provisions 
and  went  two  days  without  a  bite  to  eat.  Re 
turned  to  find  a  strike  on  at  the  mine  —  and  the 
strikers  in  possession."  He  halted  reminis- 
cently.  "  I  knocked  a  man  down  that  day:  the 
leader.  He  dared  me  and  there  were  a  dozen 
others  backing  him  up.  It  was  him  or  me  and  it 
could  n't  be  avoided.  In  the  affair  I  hurt  my 
hand ;  while  it  was  healing  I  went  to  'Frisco  and 
took  in  the  theatres."  He  held  up  the  member 
indicated,  reversed  this  time  for  inspection.  A 
white  jagged  scar  ran  diagonally  over  the 
knuckles.  "  It 's  entirely  well  now." 

The  girl  caught  her  breath.  No  query  this 
time. 

The  hand  returned  idly  to  the  man's  lap.  He 
looked  away. 

"  It 's  a  rough  life  out  there,"  he  resumed 
evenly,  "  wild  and  primitive ;  but  it 's  fascinat 
ing  in  a  way.  Besides,  it 's  one  of  the  things  I 

[  336  ] 


Decision 

wanted  to  know.  I  think  I  do  know  it.  I  don't 
believe  any  one  could  fool  me  on  a  mine  now." 

Elice  Gleason  looked  at  him  steadily,  until  per 
force  he  returned  her  gaze. 

"  Granted,"  she  admitted  steadily;  "but  is  it 
worth  while? " 

;' Worth  while?  How  do  I  know  —  or  any 
one.  It 's  necessary  for  some  one  to  know.  It 's 
part  of  the  big  game.  Farther  than  that  -  My 
hair  is  all  gray  now  —  and  I  don't  know." 

His  companion  looked  away,  with  a  little  ges 
ture  of  impatience. 

"  t<ast  of  all,  the  mine  itself?  "  she  suggested. 

Roberts  hesitated,  his  face  inscrutable  as  a 
book  closed. 

"  If  I  knew  what  you  wanted  to  know,"  he  said 
at  last,  "  I  'd  tell  you ;  but  I  don't.  It 's  fabu 
lous,  if  that  answers  your  question.  It 's  like 
Aladdin's  lamp :  there  's  nothing  material  on  the 
face  of  the  earth  it  won't  give  for  the  asking. 
It 's  producing  enough  now  daily  to  keep  a  sane 
man  a  year.  It 's  power  infinite  for  good  or 
evil,  and  creating  more  power  day  by  day." 
He  halted,  then  unconsciously  repeated  himself. 
"  Yes,  power  infinite,  neither  more  nor  less." 

There  was  a  long  silence  before  his  companion 
spoke. 

22  [  337  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

"  And  power,  you  said  once,  was  the  thing  you 
wanted  most.  You  have  it  at  last." 

'  Yes,  I  have  it  at  last,  that 's  true.  I  can  com 
mand  the  services  of  a  thousand  men,  to  work 
for  me  or  amuse  me;  or  for  another  if  I  direct. 
I  can  pass  current  anywhere  at  any  time,  and 
make  any  one  I  care  to  name  pass  current  with 
me.  The  master  key  is  in  my  possession  tight. 
I  can  choose  my  tools  for  whatever  I  wish  done 
from  a  multitude.  The  material  is  limitless,  for 
I  can  pay.  Besides,  as  I  said  before,  this  power 
is  increasing  inevitably,  whether  I  'm  asleep  or 
awake,  growing  by  its  own  momentum.  I  have 
it  at  last,  yes;  but  it  neither  is  nor  ever  was 
what  I  wanted  most,  Elice.  I  said  I  wanted  it, 
you're  right;  but  I  never  said  I  wanted  it  most. 
You  know  what  I  want  most  in  the  world, 
Elice." 

Listening,  Elice  Gleason  folded  her  hands 
tight,  until  the  blood  left  the  fingers. 

"  Yes,  I  know,"  she  said  steadily.  "  We 
understand  each  other ;  it 's  useless  to  pretend 
otherwise.  I  've  tried,  and  you  Ve  seen  through 
the  disguise  and  smiled.  It 's  simply  useless." 
The  clasped  hands  opened  in  a  gesture  of  dis 
missal.  "  But  don't  let 's  speak  of  it  now.  I 
want  to  hear  your  plans  for  the  future.  What 

[  338  ] 


Decision 

are  you  going  to  do  now  that  you  have  — 
power? " 

"Do?"  Roberts  looked  at  her  steadily.  "That 
depends  upon  one  condition  absolutely.  It 's 
superfluous  for  me  to  name  that  one." 

The  girl  flashed  him  a  look  from  eyes  unnatu 
rally  bright. 

"  Please,"  she  pleaded,  "  leave  it  alone  for  a 
time.  You  have  two  courses  outlined,  an  option. 
It  would  be  unlike  you  otherwise.  What  are 
those  two? " 

"  I  did  n't  mean  to  be  insistent,  Elice,"  said 
Roberts,  gently.  '  Take  my  word  for  it  ,1  shan't 
be  again,  whatever  you  decide.  Yes;  I  see  two 
ways  ahead.  In  one,  work  will  be  secondary, 
another's  happiness  first,  always  first.  In  the 
other,  I  shall  work  —  to  forget.  The  incentive 
of  the  game  itself  is  gone.  I  've  won  the 
game.  But  there  is  no  other  way  to  forget 
and  retain  self-respect ;  so  I  shall  work  —  to 
the  end." 

"  And  you  must  decide  soon?  " 

'  Yes,  at  once.  I  can't  remain  longer  in  un 
certainty.  Nothing  is  so  bad  as  that.  It 's  like 
a  bungling  execution:  infinitely  better  for  all 
concerned  to  be  complete.  To-morrow  I  take 
up  the  trail  one  way  or  the  other." 

[  339  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Opposite,  the  girl  caught  her  breath  for  an 
instant;  but  though  the  other  saw  he  said  noth 
ing.  He  had  promised  he  would  not. 

"  You  '11  leave  then  to-morrow,  if  —  "  That 
was  all. 

"  Yes." 

"And  never  come  back,  never?" 

"  Not  unless  I  am  sent  for.  Life  is  short  and 
holds  enough  pain  at  best.  I  have  several  proj 
ects  in  mind,  and  I  shall  be  free  to  follow 
them  where  they  lead.  I  '11  go  to  Mexico 
first.  They  've  barely  scratched  the  resources 
down  there.  Later  I  go  to  South  America. 
Afterward  —  I  have  n't  planned.  I  '11  simply 
follow  the  lead.  There 's  work  enough  to 
do." 

The  girl  looked  at  him  —  through  eyes  that 
held  their  old  marvel,  almost  their  old  fear. 

'  You  can  cut  yourself  off  so,  from  all  the  old 
life,  really?  "  she  voiced. 

"  Yes,  Elice." 

It  was  finality  absolute,  the  last  word,  the 
ultimatum. 

"And  still  you  love  me?"  breathed  the  girl 
low. 

"  More  than  I  love  life.    You  don't  doubt  it." 

From  her  seat  the  girl  arose  abruptly  and 
[  340  ] 


Decision 

passed  the  length  of  the  room  with  long,  uncon 
scious  strides,  like  a  man.  She  made  no  effort  at 
dissimulation  or  concealment  now.  The  time  for 
that  was  past.  She  merely  fought  —  openly, 
but  in  silence.  Once  she  sat  down  for  a  moment ; 
but  for  a  moment  only.  Again  she  was  on  her 
feet.  A  bit  later  she  asked  the  time,  and  very 
quietly  Roberts  told  her.  She  went  to  the  win 
dow  in  the  front  of  the  house  commanding  the 
street  and  scrutinized  its  length.  She  returned 
and  resumed  her  seat. 

"  Can  I  help  you  in  any  way,  Elice?"  asked 
Roberts,  gently. 

The  girl  shook  her  head. 

"  No,"  she  said  steadily.  "  No  one  can  help 
me.  I  can't  even  help  myself.  That 's  the  curse 
of  it.  There  's  nothing  to  do  but  wait."  The 
folded  hands  changed  position  one  above  the 
other,  and  after  a  moment  returned  as  before. 
"  Do  you  understand? "  she  queried  without 
preface. 

An  instant  Roberts  hesitated,  but  an  instant 
only. 

'  Yes,  I  think  so.     You  intimated  you  were 
expecting  some  one  to  come." 

"  Something  to  happen,"  substituted  the  girl. 

"  It 's  all  the  same,"  evenly. 
[  341  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Silence  followed  for  a  space  while  they  sat 
there  so ;  breaking  it,  the  girl  looked  at  the  other 
directly. 

"  I  have  refused  him  definitely,"  she  said,  with 
out  consciousness  of  the  seeming  ambiguity  of 
the  remark.  "  I  did  so  last  night." 

'  Yes,"  very  low ;   and  that  was  all. 

The  girl  drew  a  long  breath,  like  one  prepar 
ing  for  the  unknown. 

"  I  could  see  no  other  way  of  finding  out  for 
sure.  Like  yourself,  nothing  seemed  to  me  so 
bad  as  uncertainty." 

"  Yes,"  once  more;  just  "  yes." 

"  He  sat  just  where  you  are  sitting  now;  and 
when  I  told  him  he  laughed."  A  second  the 
brown  eyes  dropped,  then  in  infinite  pathos  they 
returned  to  the  listener's  face.  '  You  know 
how  he  laughs  when  he  's  irresponsible.  It  was 
horrible." 

"  I  know,"  echoed  Roberts.     "  I  Ve  heard  it." 

"  And  then  he  went  away.  I  sent  him  away. 
I  could  n't  stand  any  more  then.  It  seemed  to 
me  I  'd  go  mad  if  I  tried." 

Although  the  room  was  warm,  the  girl  was 

hivering;   rising,   Roberts   lit   the    gas   in    the 

grate.    But  he  said  nothing,  absolutely  nothing. 

Through  wide-open  eyes  the  girl  watched  him 

[  342  ] 


Decision 

as  he  returned  to  his  seat.  Involuntarily  she 
threw  out  both  arms  in  a  gesture  of  impotency 
absolute. 

"  That 's  all,"  she  completed,  "  except  that  I 
told  him  to  return  —  if  he  felt  he  must.  I  Ve 
been  expecting  him  every  minute  all  day;  an 
ticipating  horrors.  But  I  have  n't  heard  a 
word." 

It  was  the  mystery  at  last,  impersonate.  Like 
a  live  presence  it  stood  there  between  these  two 
human  beings  in  the  room,  holding  them  apart, 
and  each  in  his  separate  place. 

l^Tot  for  a  moment  but  for  minutes  this  time 
they  sat  in  silence.  Neither  thought  of  speak 
ing  commonplaces  now,  nor  again  of  things  in 
timate.  The  period  for  these  was  past;  the 
present  too  compellingly  vital.  What  the  man 
was  thinking  he  did  not  say  nor  reveal  by  so 
much  as  an  expression.  He  had  given  his  word 
not  to  do  so;  and  with  Darley  Roberts  a  prom 
ise  was  sacred.  A  question  he  did  ask,  though, 
at  last. 

"Wouldn't  you  like  me  to  go  and  find  out 
for  certain,  Elice?  "  he  suggested.  "  I  '11  do  so 
if  you  wish." 

"  No."  It  was  almost  a  plea.  "  We  '11  find 
out  soon,  very  soon,  I  'm  positive.  I  '11  know 

[  343  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

whatever  he  does.  He  's  certain  to  tell  me ;  and 
I  wish  you  here  if  he  comes.  Besides,  neither 
of  us  could  do  anything  whatever  to  alter  the 
inevitable,  even  if  we  tried.  We  must  simply 
wait;  it  can't  be  much  longer  now." 

Once  more  there  was  a  long  silence,  ghastly 
in  its  dragging  moments,  and  again  broken  by 
the  man. 

'  I  shan't  trouble  you  to  go  through  the  ar 
gument  again,  Elice,"  he  said,  "  or  attempt  to 
alter  your  decision,  whatever  it  may  be.  I  can't 
presume  to  judge  another's  soul.  But,  merely 
to  know  for  certain :  you  've  decided  positively 
to  marry  him,  if  -  The  sentence  ended  in 

silence  and  a  gesture. 

His  companion  did  not  answer,  appeared  al 
most  not  to  hear. 

'  Tell  me,  please,"  repeated  the  man  gently. 
'  You  may  as  well.  It  won't  hurt  either  of  us 
any  more  for  you  to  say  it  —  if  you  've  so 
decided." 

'  Yes,"  answered  the  girl  this  time.  "  I  Ve 
tried  and  tried  to  find  an  escape;  but  there  is 
none."  She  passed  her  hand  over  her  throat  as 
though  the  words  choked  her,  but  her  voice  was 
now  steady.  "  His  blood  would  be  upon  my 
head,  always,  if  I  could  prevent  and  still  let  him 

[  344  ] 


Decision 

go  —  down.  God  help  you  and  me  both,  but 
I  can't  do  otherwise!" 

A  moment  longer  Roberts  sat  still  —  fixedly 
still;  he  stood  up,  his  great  hands  clenched  until 
they  were  as  white  as  the  scar  itself. 

"  I  think  I  'd  better  go  now,"  he  said,  "  be 
fore  Armstrong  comes."  The  great  shoulders 
of  him  were  swelling  and  receding  visibly  with 
each  breath.  "  I  don't  know,  of  course ;  but  I 
fear  to  go  passive  and  unresisting  to  the  stake 
myself,  and  to  remain  passive  and  unresisting 
when  I  saw  the  same  fire  that  was  to  be  my 
fate  touching  you,  scorching  you  slowly  to  death 
—  and  for  a  fault  that  was  neither  of  your  mak 
ing  nor  mine,  for  which  we  are  in  no  respect 
responsible  -  I  'm  afraid  that  is  beyond  me, 
Elice.  I  'd  better  go  at  once,  before  he  comes." 

"  No."  The  girl,  too,  was  on  her  feet  facing 
him.  "  Please  don't.  You  don't  really  mean 
what  you  just  said." 

"Don't  I?  You  believe  in  miracles.  I'm 
human  and  I  'd  throttle  him  if  he  came  while 
I  was  here  —  and  came  as  he  came  once  before!  " 

"  Stop !  in  pity.  If  it  does  happen  he  '11  not 
be  to  blame;  it  will  be  because  he  can't  help  it. 
You  're  big  and  strong  and  he  '11  need  you  as 
well  as  me.  Wait." 

[  345  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

The  man  drew  back  a  step,  but  his  great  jaw 
was  set  immovably. 

'  You  can't  realize  what  you  're  asking,"  he 
said.  "  Remember  my  conviction  is  not  your 
conviction.  I  still  believe  that  two  predominate 
over  one  and  that  nature's  law  comes  first.  I  '11 
go  because  it  is  your  decision  and  final;  but  I 
can't  change  elemental  things  at  command.  Don't 
ask  it  or  expect  it,  because  it  is  impossible." 

;'  It 's  not  impossible,  though,"  desperately. 
"  Nothing  is  impossible  with  you." 

Roberts'  great  head  shook  a  negative. 

'  This  is.  I  can't  discuss  it  longer.  Good 
bye,  Elice." 

The  girl's  brown  eyes  followed  him  as,  deci 
sively  now,  he  prepared  to  leave,  and  in  hope 
less,  abject  misery.  She  spoke  one  word. 

"  Darley,"  she  said. 

The  listener  halted,  motionless  as  a  figure  in 
clay. 

"Darley,"  repeated  the  girl;  and  again  that 
was  all. 

"'Darley!'  It  was  the  man's  voice  this 
time,  but  it  sounded  as  though  coming  from  a 
distance.  "  '  Darley! '  At  last!  —  and  now! ' 

"  Darley,"  yet  once  again,  "  as  I  love  you  and 
you  love  me  don't  —  desert  me  now!" 

[346  ] 


Decision 

On  the  room  fell  a  silence  like  death,  —  to 
those  two  actors  worse  than  death;  for  it  held 
thought  infinite  and  complete  realization  at  last 
of  what  might  have  been  and  was  not;  of  what 
as  well,  unless  a  miracle  intervened,  could  never 
be.  In  it  they  stood,  each  where  he  was,  two 
figures  in  clay  instead  of  one.  Interrupting, 
awakening,  torturing,  sounded  the  thing  they 
had  so  long  expected;  the  impact  of  a  step 
upon  the  floor  of  the  porch  without;  a  moment 
later  another,  uncertain,  and  another;  a  pause, 
and  then,  startlingly  loud,  the  trill  of  an  elec 
tric  bell. 

For  an  instant  neither  stirred.  It  was  the 
expected;  and  still  there  is  a  limit  to  human 
endurance.  The  girl  was  trembling,  in  a  nerv 
ous  tension  too  great  to  bear  longer.  An  effort 
indeed  she  made  at  control;  but  it  was  a  pitiful 
effort  and  futile.  In  surrender  absolute,  aban 
don  absolute,  she  dropped  back  into  her  seat, 
her  arms  crossed  pathetically  on  the  surface  of 
the  library  table,  her  face  buried  from  sight 
therein. 

"  Answer  it,  please,"  she  pleaded.  "  I  can't. 
I'm  ashamed,  unutterably;  but  I  can't!" 

Again  the  alarm  of  the  bell  sounded;  curtly 
short  this  time  and  insistent. 

[347] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

Without  a  word  or  even  a  pause  Darley 
Roberts  obeyed.  As  he  passed  out  he  closed  the 
door  carefully  behind  him. 

Five  minutes  that  seemed  to  the  girl  a  life 
time  dragged  by.  Listening,  she  heard  the 
opening  of  the  front  door,  the  murmur  of  low, 
speaking  voices,  —  a  murmur  ceasing  as  abruptly 
as  it  began;  then,  wonder  of  wonders,  the  door 
closed  again  with  a  snap  and  a  retreating  step 
sounded  once,  twice,  as  when  it  had  come,  on 
the  floor  of  the  porch.  Following,  she  marked 
the  even  footfall  of  Roberts  returning.  The 
electric  switch  that  he  had  turned  on  snapped 
back  as  he  had  found  it,  the  intervening  door 
opened,  and  he  entered.  But,  strange  to  say, 
he  did  not  pause  or  say  a  word.  As  one  awak 
ening  from  a  dream  and  not  yet  wholly  con 
scious,  he  returned  silently  to  his  former  place. 
On  his  face  was  a  look  she  had  never  seen  be 
fore,  which  she  could  not  fathom. 

"  Darley."  Unbelieving  the  girl  leaned  toward 
him  appealingly.  "  Tell  me.  Was  n't  it  —  he?  " 

The  man  looked  at  her  then,  and  there  was 
that  in  his  gray  eyes  that  tinged  her  face 
crimson. 

"No.  It  was  Harry  Randall,"  he  said,  "It's 
all  right,  Elice.  The  miracle  came." 

[348] 


Decision 

"The  miracle!"  The  voice  was  uncertain 
again,  but  from  a  far  different  cause  this  time. 
"  Don't  keep  me  waiting.  Tell  me.  Is  he  — 
well?" 

This  time  Roberts  actually  smiled,  —  smiled 
as  he  had  not  done  -before  in  months. 

"  Yes ;  and  writing  like  mad !  That 's  the 
miracle.  He  's  been  at  it  steady  now  for  twenty 
hours,  and  won't  even  pause  to  eat.  He  sent 
for  Harry  to  deliver  the  message.  It 's  inspira 
tion  he  's  working  under  and  he  could  n't  stop 
to  come  himself,  would  n't.  He  said  to  tell  you, 
and.  me,  that  it  was  all  right.  He  'd  found  him 
self  at  last.  Those  were  his  words,  —  he  'd 
found  himself  at  last."  As  suddenly  as  it  had 
come  the  smile  passed,  and  Roberts  stood  up, 
his  big  hands  locked  behind  his  back. 

'  We  Ve  thought  we  understood  him  all  these 
years,"  he  said  steadily,  "  but  at  last  I  realize 
that  we  have  n't  at  all.  It  would  be  humorous 
if  it  had  n't  been  so  near  to  tragedy,  so  very 
near.  Anyway,  it 's  clear  now.  Harry  Randall 
sees  it  too.  That 's  why  he  would  n't  stay. 
Steve  Armstrong  never  cared  for  you  really  at 
all,  Elice.  He  thought  he  did  —  but  he  did  n't. 
It  was  himself  he  cared  for;  and  a  fancy. 
Neither  you  nor  I  nor  any  one  can  change  him 

[  349  ] 


The  Dominant  Dollar 

or  help  him  more  than  temporarily.  We  're 
free.  He  '11  stand  or  go  under  as  it  was  writ 
ten  in  the  beginning."  The  voice  lowered  until 
it  throbbed  with  the  conviction  that  was  in  the 
speaker's  soul.  "  No  man  alive  who  really  cared 
could  find  inspiration  where  he  found  it.  The 
world  is  before  us  and  we  're  free,  Elice,  free ! " 
Unconsciously,  in  answer  to  an  instinct  she 
obeyed  without  reason,  the  girl  too  arose,  an 
exaltation  in  her  face  no  artist  could  reproduce 
nor  words  describe. 

'  Yes,"  she  said.  "  I  see  it  all  too  at  last. 
We  've  all  been  blind."  She  caught  her  breath 
at  the  thought  that  would  intrude,  force  it  back 
as  she  would.  "And  still  we  came  so  near,  so 
very,  very  near- 

'Yes;  but  it's  past."  The  man  opposite 
was  advancing.  Not  the  impassive,  cold  Darley 
Roberts  the  world  knew,  but  the  other  Darley 
Roberts  revealed  to  one  alone;  the  isolate 
human  alone  and  lonely.  "  But  it 's  past,  past, 
do  you  hear?  And  to-day  is  December  the 
sixth,  our  anniversary  —  ours."  He  halted, 
waiting.  He  smiled,  with  a  tenderness  infinite. 
"Is  it  'Darley'  still,  Elice?  Won't  you  come 
and  say  it  again? " 

THE    END 


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